Socio-economic transformations: settlement survey in the Tehran Plain and excavations at Tepe Pardis

Coningham, R.A.E, Fazeli, H, Young, R.L, Gillmore, G, Karimian, H, Maghsoudi, M, Donahue, R.E and Batt, C.M (2006) 'Socio-economic transformations: settlement survey in the Tehran Plain and excavations at Tepe Pardis.' Iran - Journal Of The British Institute Of Persian Studies, 44 (1). pp. 33-62.

Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/05786967.2006.11834680

Abstract

An archaeological survey of the plain of Tehran was begun in August 2003, marking the initiation of the second phase of collaborative research between Durham University, the University of Bradford, the University of Leicester, the University of Tehran and the Iranian Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organisation (ICHTO). The survey was launched with three main aims. Firstly, to pilot the collection of data regarding the frequency, distribution, density and condition of sites from the terminal Palaeolithic c. 8000 B.C., through the Late Chalcolithic c. 3000 B.C. to the present. Secondly, to provide a basis from which to select prehistoric sites for detailed survey and test excavation in order to enhance the absolute chronology of the Tehran plain. Finally, to begin to assess the archaeological landscape background to these changes in the light of geomorpho- logical analysis. In the summer of 2004, we continued this work during a second season and recorded a total of 123 archaeological sites, including 14 previously unknown Chalcolithic sites. One of the larger Chalcolithic sites to be identified in our first season, Tepe Pardis, was also excavated in 2004 in order to enhance the absolute chronology for the plain, and has generated dates of c. 5300 B.C. for the Late Neolithic/Transitional Chalcolithic interface (Fig. 1). Finally, our new survey data has reconfirmed our earlier findings that this non-renewable cultural resource is under substantial pressure from farming, building and illicit excavations.

Item Type: Article
Divisions: School of Sciences
Date Deposited: 02 Jun 2021 20:58
Last Modified: 15 Aug 2021 09:56
ISSN: 0578-6967
URI / Page ID: https://researchspace.bathspa.ac.uk/id/eprint/14091
Request a change to this item or report an issue Request a change to this item or report an issue
Update item (repository staff only) Update item (repository staff only)