Nishapur Revisited: Stratigraphy and Ceramics of the Qohandez

233 Pages·2013·112.57 MB·English

by  Rocco Rante, Annabelle Collinet

N R
ISHAPUR EVISITED

N R
ISHAPUR EVISITED
Stratigraphy and Ceramics of the Qohandez
Rocco Rante
&
Annabelle Collinet
with contributions by
Rajabali Labbaf Khaniki, Iranian Centre of Archaeological Research (ICAR)
A. Bouquillon, Y. Coquinot, C. Doublet, Y. Gallet, A. Genevey, E. Porto and A. Zink
Centre de Recherche et de Restauration des Musées de France (C2RMF)
OXBOW BOOKS
Oxford and Oakville
Published by
Oxbow Books, Oxford, UK
© Oxbow Books and the authors, 2013
ISBN 978-1-84217-494-4
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Rante, Rocco.
Nishapur revisited : stratigraphy and ceramics of the Qohandez / Rocco Rante, Annabelle Collinet ; with
contributions by Rajabali Labbaf Khaniki and the C2RMF.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 978-1-84217-494-4
1. Nishapur (Iran)--Antiquities. 2. Excavations (Archaeology)--Iran--Nishapur. 3. Pottery, Iranian--Iran--Nishapur.
4. Geology, Stratigraphic--Iran--Nishapur. I. Collinet, Annabelle. II. Labaf Khaniki, Rajab’ali, 1948 or 1949- III. Centre
de recherche et de restauration des musées de France. IV. Title.
DS325.N57R36 2013
935’.792--dc23
2012040604
Cover image: Nishapur, north-eastern part of the Qohandez (© Rante 2005)
Printed in Great Britain by
Short Run Press
Exeter
Contents
Foreword ................................................................................................................................................vii
Acknowledgements ..............................................................................................................................viii
List of Illustrations.................................................................................................................................ix
List of Tables .........................................................................................................................................xii
Introduction ..........................................................................................................................................xiii
Chapter I. Historical and Geographical Background ..........................................................1
1. Geographical setting ...........................................................................................................................1
2. Former excavations and studies ........................................................................................................4
3. Historical setting .................................................................................................................................9
Chapter II. The Excavation and the Absolute Chronology.............................................13
1. Introduction to the Irano-French excavation ...............................................................................13
2. Dating problems .................................................................................................................................17
3. Thermoluminescence analysis (TL) ................................................................................................19
Sample preparation ...........................................................................................................................19
Measurement apparatus ...................................................................................................................19
Luminescence tests ...........................................................................................................................20
Palaeodose ..........................................................................................................................................20
Annual dose ........................................................................................................................................20
Numerical simulation .......................................................................................................................21
Results .................................................................................................................................................21
4. Insights from archaeomagnetic analysis .......................................................................................28
Archaeomagnetic analysis ................................................................................................................28
Sample collection and magnetic properties .................................................................................29
Intensity experiments .......................................................................................................................31
Archaeointensity results ..................................................................................................................32
Discussion ............................................................................................................................................32
5. The stratigraphical sequence ..........................................................................................................39
Test-pit B .............................................................................................................................................39
Test-pit 10 ...........................................................................................................................................44
Test-pit 26 ...........................................................................................................................................48
Test-pit 27 ...........................................................................................................................................51
6. Interpreting the occupation chronology and the urban development ....................................53
vi Contents
Chapter III. Pottery Study and Analyses ................................................................................56
1. Recording methodology ...................................................................................................................56
2. Questioning the material: the ceramic analysis program ..........................................................57
Preliminary comments .....................................................................................................................57
The fabrics: petrographic and chemical analyses ........................................................................68
The glazed wares: physical and chemical analyses ...................................................................101
Where were the ceramics made? ..................................................................................................128
3. Interpreting the analyses: the ceramic groups and their productions ..................................133
Chapter IV. Chronology of the Qohandez Pottery ...........................................................136
1. Introduction to the Test-pits .........................................................................................................136
2. Chronological sequence of the Qohandez pottery .....................................................................138
Period I ..............................................................................................................................................138
Period II .............................................................................................................................................141
Period IIIa ..........................................................................................................................................145
Period IIIb .........................................................................................................................................155
3. Comparative study with the main Khorasanian sites ...............................................................196
Conclusion .............................................................................................................................................204
Bibliography ..........................................................................................................................................207
Foreword
This book presents the results of the most recent archaeological study in Nishapur, the ancient
city of Khorasan. It is focused on the stratigraphy and the pottery of the Qohandez (citadel).
The archaeological material in this volume has been gathered by the Irano-French mission in
charge of excavating the citadel between 2005 and 2007. The joint mission was organized by
the ICAR (Iranian Centre of Archaeological Research), MAEE (Ministère des Aff aires étrangères
et européennes), CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifi que) and the musée du
Louvre.
The ceramics analysis was undertaken by the Département des Arts de l’Islam of the musée
du Louvre following agreement in 2008 of a joint framework between that Department and the
C2RMF (Centre de Recherche et de Restauration des Musées de France). As part of that agreement,
a fi nal season of work in Nishapur was organised by the joint team in 2009. This mainly aimed
to gather data and take radiation measurements needed for thermoluminescence and
archaeomagnetism analyses.
Rocco Rante, archaeologist at the Département des Arts de l’Islam of the musée du Louvre,
has been active in Nishapur since 2005 and became the fi eld director of the French team in
2006. He continues to head the French mission under the authority of the MAEE and the
Louvre.
Annabelle Collinet, scientifi c advisor at the Département des Arts de l’Islam of the musée
du Louvre, has been in charge of the study of Nishapur ceramic material since 2006. She has
was also a member of the Nishapur mission in 2006 and 2007.
The results of the stratigraphic and ceramic analyses presented in this volume constitute
an important contribution to the knowledge of the archaeology of Nishapur and towards the
resolution of decades of debate. Beyond this major issue, the book also represents a useful tool
for future comparative studies on the urbanism and material culture of the Greater Khorasan
and beyond.
Chahryar Adle
President of the International Scientifi c Committee for the publication
of the History of the Civilizations of Central Asia (UNESCO)
Research Director Emeritus, CNRS (Paris)
Acknowledgements
This book is the result of collaborative work by an Irano-French team comprising the ICAR,
the CNRS and the musée du Louvre who carried out excavations at Nishapur between 2005 and
2007. First, we would like to thank the Iranian authorities, the ICAR and the ICHHTO as well as
the Miras-e Faranghi of Mashhad. Without their permissions for excavation and authorisation
of the subsequent analyses this work would not have been realised. In this respect, we
particularly thank Rajabali Labbaf Khaniki and Meysam Labbaf, respectively the director and
assistant director of the Iranian team. They and the Miras-e Faranghi of Mashhad made it
possible to transport the pottery assemblage to France for analysis. We also thank Abulfazl
Mokaramifar, who granted permission for us to continue our work here in Paris. Many thanks
also go to the French Institute in Tehran (IFRI) for logistical support.
We sincerely thank, Henri Loyrette, President-Director of the musée du Louvre, as well as
the Director of the Département des Arts de l’Islam, Sophie Makariou, and particularly our
colleagues Delphine Miroudot and Carine Juvin, who were with us on the fi eld.
Finally, many thanks to our colleagues of the C2RMF team, who are included in this book.
List of Illustrations
Fig. 1: Geographical map of Iran (© Google Earth 2012)
Fig. 2: Geographical map of the Nishapur area (© Google Earth 2012)
Fig. 3: Nishapur, satellite view of the archaeological area (© Google Earth 2012)
Fig. 4: Nishapur, Qohandez, present state of the site ruins (© Collinet 2006)
Fig. 5: Nishapur and Environs, Excavation Map, The Iranian Expedition at Nishapur, The Metropolitan Museum
of Art (The Metropolitan Museum of Art Image © The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Drawing by Joseph P.
Ascherel)
Fig. 6: Nishapur, Shadyakh, view of the Iranian excavation (© Collinet 2006)
Fig. 7: East Kilns, Inlcudes the largest kiln (right) with three rings of baton holes in wall, Nishapur, from the Iranian
Expedition at Nishapur, The Metropolitan Museum of Art (Photograph by the Iranian Expedition at Nishapur,
The Metropolitan Museum of Art Image © The Metropolitan Museum of Art)
Fig. 8: Nishapur, Qohandez, 3D plan and tests (© Rosati 2010)
Fig. 9: Nishapur, Qohandez, Shahrestan and mosque, satellite view (© Google Earth 2008)
Fig. 10: Nishapur, view of the north-eastern part of the Qohandez (© Rante 2005)
Fig. 11: Nishapur, Qohandez, view of the Iranian team excavation (© Rante 2005)
Fig. 12: Nishapur, Qohandez, Northern Rampart, cross-section N–S (© Rosati 2010)
Fig. 13: Nishapur, Dosimetry Mission for Thermoluminescence (TL) analyses (© Porto and Rante 2009)
Fig. 14: Nishapur, Qohandez, mission TL, the gamma inspection with the gamma-meter instrument (© Porto and
Rante 2009)
Fig. 15: Nishapur, Qohandez, some measurements realised on Test B and Test 10 (© Zink 2010 from Rante 2005)
Fig. 16: Glow curves graphic of the measurement on fi eld (© Zink and Porto 2010)
Fig. 17: Shards from the Qohandez dated by TL (© Collinet 2010)
Fig. 18: Shards from the Qohandez dated by TL (© Collinet 2010)
Fig. 19: Graphic model showing the individual ages (© Zink and Porto 2010)
Fig. 20: Graphic showing the probability distribution of luminescence ages. (© Zink and Porto 2010)
Fig. 21: Rock magnetic measurements (© Genevey and Gallet 2010)
Fig. 22: Intensity determinations obtained using the Triaxe magnetometer for the eleven fragments which provided
suitable intensity results (© Genevey and Gallet 2010)
Fig. 23: Extension of the geographical area where intensity data were selected for building the reference
geomagnetic fi eld intensity variation curve (© Genevey and Gallet 2010)
Fig. 24: Geomagnetic intensity variations between 800 BC and 1500 AD deduced from selected dated archeomagnetic
data obtained from relatively closeby regions to Nishapur (© Genevey and Gallet 2010)
Fig. 25: Nishapur, Qohandez, section of Test B (© Rante 2005)
Fig. 26: Nishapur, Qohandez, Test B, plan of the occupation soil 249 (Period II) (© Rante 2010)
Fig. 27: Nishapur, Qohandez, large jar corresponding to the soil 249 (Period II) (© Rante 2005)
Fig. 28: Nishapur, Qohandez, Test B, view of the well 11 (© Rante 2005)
Fig. 29: Nishapur, Qohandez, Test B, view of the soil 239–240 (© Rante 2005)
Fig. 30: Nishapur, Qohandez, Test B, view of the western side (© Rante 2005)
Fig. 31: Nishapur, Qohandez, section of Test 10 (© Rante 2006)
Fig. 32: Nishapur, Qohandez, Test 10, view of the eastern platform (© Rante 2006)
Fig. 33: Nishapur, Qohandez, Test 10, view of the northern tower (quart-circular) (© Rante 2006)
Fig. 34: Nishapur, Qohandez, Test 10, view of the stopping block mud brick (© Rante 2006)
Fig. 35: Nishapur, Qohandez, Test 10, view of the silica layer (© Porto 2009)
Fig. 36: Nishapur, Qohandez, section of Test 26 (© Cuny 2007)
Fig. 37: Nishapur, Qohandez, Test 26, view of the wall 1 (© Rosati 2007)
Fig. 38: Nishapur, Qohandez, section of Test 27 (© Rante 2007)
Fig. 39: Nishapur, Qohandez, plan showing the urban development in Period II (© Rante and Rosati 2011)