| چکیده انگلیسی مقاله |
Abstract
During the systematic archaeological excavations at the historical site of Qara-Haslanlu in Namin, numerous significant cultural artifacts were uncovered, which are crucial for the comprehensive analysis and exploration of this location. Among the various discoveries, including pottery shers, bones, burial sites, and metal and gold items, a substantial adobe structure was revealed at the hill’s center, notable for its unique architectural design, marking it as the sole architectural phase in the region; its significance has consequently been heightened. This remarkable architectural feature is constructed entirely from stone and clay, encircled by a series of supporting structures. This study has introduced the adobe structure recovered using a descriptive-analytical approach, drawing on both fieldwork and library resources. The main questions addressed include: What are the architectural characteristics of this large adobe structure, to which historical period does it belong, and what was its intended function? Findings indicate that the adobe structure or platform, covering roughly 833 square meters, is entirely constructed of adobe, except for three lower stone ridges which found only on the exterior sides. The structure aligns with and continues the platform-building tradition of Iron Age II and III, and it was likely used for ritual purposes. Additionally, the analysis of pottery from the Qara-Hasanlu area, compared with findings from other sites, supports the conclusion that this substantial adobe platform dates back to the late Iron Age or the Parthian period.
Keywords: Qara-Hasanlu Site, Namin, Clay Structure, Pottery, Iron Age, Parthian Period.
Introduction
The large adobe structure at Qara-Hasanlu stands out as the only known platform of its kind in northwestern Iran, distinguished by its unique architectural style and located in the center of the Ardabil Plain. The outer portion of this substantial structure features three rows of stone and seven rows of bricks, while its interior is entirely filled with layered clay. Generally, most archaeological research related to excavations and ancient sites has concentrated on artifacts like pottery and other small finds, with relatively little focus on architectural elements and structures. In this context, examining the architectural aspects of the adobe structure at Qara-Hasanlu is highly valuable for understanding the features, characteristics, and traditions of Iron Age platform architecture in northwestern Iran, serving as a foundation for more in-depth study. Such research should be approached with scientific rigor.
Research Questions: 1. What are the architectural features of the large adobe structure in the Qara-Hasanlu area? 2. To which historical period does the large adobe structure of the Qara-Hasanlu area belong? 3. What was the function and purpose of the large adobe structure at Qara-Hasanlu?
Research Method: This article employs a descriptive-analytical research method, drawing on findings from excavations and field surveys conducted in the specified area. Alongside numerous small cultural artifacts uncovered in the excavation trenches, a significant architectural feature the large adobe structure was also identified, thoroughly examined, and scientifically analyzed during systematic archaeological investigations in the Qara-Hasanlu area. This discovery has further elevated the site’s archaeological significance. To support and deepen the analysis, library research and comparisons with contemporary structures have also been utilized.
Qara-Hasanlu Mound: Qara-Hasanlu is situated within the boundaries of Namin Town in Ardabil Province. It lies along the Ardabil–Ab-Biglo Road, approximately one kilometer from the main road, positioned in the heart of the Ardabil Plain. The site is located 2 kilometers northwest of Qara-Hasanlu village and 9 kilometers east of the city of Ardabil, in a broad, open plain.
Qara-Hasanlu Adobe Structure or Platform: One of the most significant architectural discoveries at Qara-Hasanlu is a clay platform, remains of which have been uncovered in several trenches across the mound and within the natural sediments. This large structure, featuring a three-row stone foundation made of rubble and large stone fragments, has a body constructed entirely of clay and is situated at the center of the mound.
Analysis of the findings
A) Chronology of the clay platform
The adobe platform was constructed on a mound dating back to Iron Age I and II, indicating that it does not belong to the same period. Therefore, it can be concluded that the mound was reused for building the adobe platform during the late Iron Age III or the Parthian Period, after it had been previously abandoned.
b) Use of clay platform:
Regarding the function of the large clay platform, it is likely that this architectural structure served a ritual purpose.
Conclusion
The archaeological investigations conducted at the Qara-Hasanlu site have yielded substantial evidence reflecting cultural traditions from Iron Age I and II, as well as the Parthian Period, within the Ardabil Plain. Among the most significant datable cultural materials retrieved from the site are pottery fragments, which predominantly correspond to the Iron Age (I and II) and the historical Parthian Period. However, the most prominent and aesthetically remarkable feature discovered at the site is the large adobe structure. This monumental platform features a building composed of three lower rows of stone and seven outer rows of adobe bricks, reinforced with structural supports. Its core and upper sections, extending down to the virgin soil, consist of twelve successive layers of compacted clay. The adobe platform at Qara-Hasanlu may be interpreted as a continuation of the Iron Age III architectural tradition of platform construction, comparable to similar structures found at sites such as Tepe Sialk in Kashan, Konar Sandal and Jiroft, Nushijan in Malayer, Pasargadae and Persepolis, Deh-No in Khuzestan, and Qaleh Darvish in Qom. Furthermore, evidence of platform surface cuts and the placement of burials atop the clay layers, alongside the presence of Iron Age I and II ceramics within the cultural strata of the site, suggests that the adobe platform may have initially been constructed during the Iron Age and later reutilized in the Parthian Period. Nevertheless, the occurrence of Iron Age pottery embedded within the brick matrix indicates that the area was originally settled during the Iron Age, with the current clay platform being constructed in a subsequent era. In conclusion, considering that the majority approximately 90% of the ceramic assemblage from Qara-Hasanlu is attributable to the Parthian Period, it is highly plausible to assign a relative chronological placement of the adobe platform to the Parthian era. |