Studies in the Archeological History of the Deh Luran Plain: The Excavation of Chagha Sefid

384 Pages·1977·31.5 MB·English

by  by Frank Hole

MEMOIRS OF THE MUSEUM OF ANTHROPOlOGY
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
NUMBER 9
STUDIES IN THE ARCHEOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE DEH LURAN PLAIN
The Excavation of Chagha Sefid
By
FRANK HOLE
Contributions by
M. J. Kirkby, Colin Renfrew
ANN ARBOR
1977
ISBN 978-1-949098-43-3 (paper)
ISBN 978-1-949098-73-0 (ebook)
CONTENTS
List of Figures v
List of Tables viii
List of Plates xi
Preface xiii
Acknowledgements xiii
Part 1. General Discussion
I. Research Objectives and Strategy
Introduction . . . . . . . . 1
Synopsis of previous results 3
Research strategy . . . . . 8
II. Principal Results and Implications
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
The transition from the Mohammad Jaffar to the Sabz phase 10
Origins and implications of the Choga Mami Transitional 12
What happened to the original settlers? 16
The Deh Luran sequence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Eras and strategies of subsistence . . . . . . . . . . 18
Assessment of developments throughout western Iran 19
Major research problems remaining ...... . 21
III. The Ages and Characteristics of the Phases
Estimated ages of the phases . . 24
Remarks on radiocarbon dating 27
Summary of the phases 28
Part 2. Excavation and Analysis
IV. Stratigraphy and Architecture
Methods of excavation . . . 41
Depositional history-west trench 46
Depositional history-Area B 79
Architectural features ..... . 86
V. Burials
Prehistoric burials 91
Intrusive burials 93
VI. Pottery
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . 94
The pottery sequence . . . . . . 97
Stone, plaster and asphalt vessels 139
VII. Chipped Stone Artifacts
Introduction 148
Tool types ..... . 151
iii
iv ARCHEOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE DEH LURAN PLAIN
VIII. Other Artifacts
Introduction . . . . . . . . 196
Grinding and pounding tools 200
Miscellaneous stone artifacts 208
Miscellaneous artifacts 216
Bone artifacts . . . . . . . 219
Matting and basketry 223
Figurines and objects of lightly baked clay 226
Ornaments 236
Copper .. 245
Bibliography 246
Appendix 1: Land and Water Resources of the Deh Luran and Khuzistan Plains
by M.J. Kirby, University of Leeds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Appendix 2: The Later Obsidian of Deh Luran-The Evidence of Chagha Sefid
by Colin Renfrew, University of Southhampton ....... . 289
FIGURES
1. Topographic map of Chagha Sefid with the excavations in Areas A, C, D and B indicated 42
2. Section through site along south profile of excavation. 43
3. Chagha Sefid, about 1.5 km southwest of Deh Luran . 44
4. An erosional gully cut into sterile sands and gravels at the base of Chagha Sefid before
settlement began . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
5. Profile of south side of Area A pit showing the successive stratigraphic zones 49
6. Zone A2, Ali Kosh Phase. Remnant of a mud brick house . . . . . . . . . . 51
7. Zone A3, Ali Kosh Phase. Remnants of two fireplaces in the corners of rooms 52
8. Zone A3, Ali Kosh Phase. Details of fireplace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
9. Zone A4, Early Sefid Phase. Burials and disturbed clusters of bones with overlying walls dotted 54
10. Zone A4, Early Sefid Phase. Remnants of rooms lying above burials 55
11. Profile of east end of pit in Area A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
12. Zone C, Event 1, Late Sefid Phase. A rectangle of stones with a plaster basin at one end. 58
13. Zone C, Event I, Late Sefid Phase. Courtyard or room paved with stones 60
14. Zone C, Event 2, Late Sefid Phase. Large mud brick platform . . . . . . 61
15. Zone C, Event 3, Early Surkh Phase. Paved floor or courtyard with adjacent plaster-floored rooms 62
16. Zone C, Events 3-4, Early Surkh Phase. Open area is filled with rock, ash and trash and the
entire area is eroded . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
17. Zone C, Event 4, Early Surkh Phase. Final building of pavement on leveled structures of Event 3. 64
18. Zone C, Event 5, Early Surkh Phase. Brick pavement or small platform built over former paved
area. ........................... · · · · · · · · · 65
19. Zone C, Event 6, Early Surkh Phase. Final Structure discernible in Area A ..... 66
20. Zone D 1, Surkh Phase. Large stones partially outline the brick platform of Zone C. 68-69
21. Zone D3, Surkh Phase. Complex of stone-founded rooms. 70
22. Zone D4, Surkh Phase. Partial rebuilding of Zone D3 rooms and addition of a plastered floor
work area with plaster basins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
23. Zone El, Surkh Phase. Remains of a multi-room house unit 72
24. Zone F, Surkh Phase. Corner of large brick platform . . . . 73
25. Zone F, Late Surkh Phase. Profile, reconstruction of brick platform 74
26. Zone F, Late Surkh or Choga Mami Transitional Phase. Trace of brick wall is Choga Mami
Transitional age, remnants of wall west of platform are probably of Late Surkh Phase age . . . 76
27. Zone G 1, Choga Mami Transitional Phase. Remnants of two large work rooms adjacent to the
brick platform, and two small rooms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76-77
28. Zone G2, Choga Mami Transitional Phase. Rebuilding of the structure of Zone G 1 ..... 78-79
29. Zone H, Choga Mami Transitional Phase. Room of long, finger-impressed mud bricks with a
plaster basin inside . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
v
vi ARCHEOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE DEH LURAN PLAIN
30. Zone I, Sabz Phase, Traces of a room largely destroyed when the plaster kiln was built 81
,.
31. Zone I, Sabz Phase. Section through oven along east profile of Area D 82
32. Zone J, Sabz Phase and intrusive plaster kiln of uncertain age 83
33. Profile of Area B showing stratigraphic zones . . . . . . . . . 84
34. Area B. a. Zone C, Sefid Phase. b. Upper levels, probably Sefid Phase. 85
35. Burials 7, 8, 9, 4, and 10 92
36. Burials 1 and 2 (intrusive) 93
37. Jaffar Painted. Mohammad Jaffar Phase 102
38. J affar Plain. Sefid Phase . . . . . I 05
3 9. Khazineh Red. Early Sefid Phase 10 8
40. Khazineh Red. Later Sefid Phase 109
41. Khazineh Red. Early Surkh Phase 11 0
42. Khazineh Red. Late Surkh Phase and Choaga Mami Transitional 111
43. Sefid Red-on-Cream. Sefid Phase, varieties A, C 115
44. Sefid Red-on-Cream. Sefid, Surkh Phases, varieites A, B 116
45. Sefid Red-on-Cream. Sefid Phase . . . . . 117
46. Sefid Black-on-Cream. Sefid, Surkh Phases 119
4 7. Sefid Black-on-Red. Sefid Phase 123
48. Sefid Black-on-Red. Surkh Phase 124
49. Sefid Burnished Plain. Later Sefid Phase 128
50. Susiana Black-on-Buff. Sabz, Choga Mami Transitional phases 130
51. Susiana Black-on-Buff, Plain Buff and Miscellaneous. Sabz, Choga Mami Transitional, Surkh
and Sefid phases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
52. Sia1k Black-on-Red. Choga Mami Transitional, Surkh phases 140
53. Sialk Black-on-Red. Choga Mami Transitional, Surkh phases 141
54. Sherds with white paint. Surkh, Choga Mami Transitional, Sefid phases 144
55. Stone, plaster and asphalt bowls. Choga Mami Transitional, Surkh, Sefid phases 146
56. Chipped stone tool types 161
57. Drills and reamers 163
58. Reamers, blades and pointed pieces . 164
59. Various chipped stone tool types 165
60. Plain sickles 167
61. Sickles 168
62. Blade, round end scrapers 170
63. Flake, round end scrapers 171
64. Blades and miscellaneous end scrapers 172
65. Blades 174
66. Used blades 175
67. Notched, truncated blades 176
FIGURES vii
68. Backed, notched blades 177
69. Notched flakes . . . . 179
70. Used flakes, notched flakes 180
71. Denticulate flake scrapers 181
72. Denticulate flake scrapers, bifacially chipped flake 182
7 3. Burins, bifacially chipped picks and flake, scaled flake 183
74. Bullet cores . . . . . 189
75. Blade cores, variety a 190
7 6. Blade cores, variety b 191
77. Blade cores, variety c 192
78. Flake cores 193
79. Flake cores 194
80. Saddle-shaped grinding slabs 202
81. Saddle-shaped grinding slabs, trough metate 203
82. Boulder mortars, shaped and polished stone 204
83. Boulder mortars 205
84. Mortars . . 206
85. Handstones 207
86. Shaped and polished stones 214
87. Miscellaneous ceramic objects 218
88. Bone objects . . 222
89. Animal figurines 228
90. Human figurines 229
91. Stalk and T-shaped figurines 230
92. Miscellaneous ornaments . . 239
93. Map for the Khuzistan Plain, Iran 252
94. The Deh Luran area: rivers and alluvial fan patterns 256
95. The Deh Luran area: surface stoniness . 257
96. The Deh Luran area: depth of dissection 258
97. The Deh Luran area: salinity of soils . 259
98. The Deh Luran area: vegetation zones 260
99. The Deh Luran area: the overall pattern of environment 262
100. Upper Khuzistan: the overall pattern of environment 264
101. Upper Khuzistan: principal physiographic zones and features 265
102. Upper Khuzistan: present agricultural land use . . . . . . . . 267
103. Correlation between monthly evaporation and monthly mean temperatures 270
104. Accumulated water surplus for dry farming at 150m elevation in Deh Luran and Khuzistan areas 271
105. Chemical composition of Khuzistan rivers at various stages of flow 273
viii ARCHEOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE DEH LURAN PLAIN
106. Relationships between meander wavelength and bankfull discharge for U.S. rivers and for
Khuzistan rivers ......................................... 274
107. Upper Khuzistan: sites for which air photograph measurements of present and former meander
characteristics have been analyzed ............................... 275
108. Sequence of river courses in Khuzistan, based on freshness and wavelength of meander patterns 277
109. Upper Khuzistan: Sasanian or Early Islamic canal lines ............... . 278
11 0. Relationship between bankfull discharge and drainage area for Khuzistan rivers today 280
111. Total aggradation of the main plains level since dates shown 282
112. The obsidian trade in Western Asia, c. 7500-5500 B.C. 291
113. The obsidian trade in Western Asia, c. 5000-3000 B.C. 292
114. Blade widths from the Sefid phase at Chagha Sefid 298
115. Percentage of obsidian in the chipped stone industry at Chagha Sefid. 115
116. Number of pieces of chipped stone and of obsidian per cubic meter at Chagha Sefid in
successive phases and stratigraphic zones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
117. Phase-by-phase variation in the percentage of obsidian in the chipped stone industry at four
sites in Deh Luran . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
118. Phase-by-phase variation in the number of pieces of chipped stone and of obsidian per cubic
meter at four sites in Deh Luran ................................ 306
119. The percentage of group lg obsidian in the total obsidian industry in successive phases at Ali
Kosh and Chagha Sefid ............... _ ..................... 308
TABLES
1. Radiocarbon dating of phases in Deh Luran 11
2. Radiocarbon dates from sites in Deh Luran and nearby . 25
3. Ages of the phases in Deh Luran . . . . . . . 27
4. Volume of deposit excavated at Chagha Sefid 46
5. Percentages of rim sherds of each type by stratigraphic zone 96
6. Percentages of rim sherds of each type by cultural phase 97
7. Total sherds of each type by stratigraphic zone 98
8. Percentages of sherds of each type by stratigraphic zone 99
9. Total sherds of each type by cultural phase 100
1 0. Percentages of sherds of each type by cultural phase 100
11. Jaffar Painted sherds by stratigraphic zone 104
12. J affar Painted sherds by cultural phase . 104
13. J affar Plain sherds by stratigraphic zone 106
14. J affar Plain sherds by cultural phase . . 106
15. Khazineh Red sherds by stratigraphic zone 113
16. Khazineh Red sherds by cultural phase . . 114
17. Sefid Red-on-Cream and Sefid Painted by stratigraphic zone 120
TABLES ix
18. Sefid Red-on-Cream and Sefid Painted by cultural phase 121
19. Sefid Black-on-Cream by stratigraphic zone 122
20. Sefid Black-on-Cream by cultural phase 122
21. Sefid Black-on-Red by stratigraphic zone 126
22. Sefid Black-on-Red by cultural phase 127
23. Sefid Burnished Plain by stratigraphic zone 129
24. Sefid Burnished Plain by cultural phase 129
25. Susiana Black-on-Buff vessel forms by stratigraphic zone 135
26. Susiana Black-on-Buff vessel forms by cultural phase 136
27. Susiana Black-on-Buff design styles by stratigraphic zone 137
28. Susiana Black-on-Buff design styles by cultural phase 138
29. Susiana Plain Buff by stratigraphic zone 139
30. Susiana Plain Buff by cultural phase . . 139
31. Sialk Black-on"Red by stratigraphic zone 142
32. Sialk Black-on-Red by cultural phase .. 143
33. Miscellaneous sherds by stratigraphic zone 145
34. Miscellaneous sherds by cultural phase . . 145
35. Sherds of stone, plaster and asphalt by stratigraphic zone 147
36. Sherds of stone, plaster and asphalt by cultural phase 147
37. Percentages of chipped stone tool types at Ali Kosh, Chagha Sefid and Tepe Sabz 149
38. Chipped stone raw materials by cultural phase 150
39. Chipped stone tool types by stratigraphic zone 152
40. Chipped stone tool types by cultural phase 153
41. Flint chiped stone tool types by stratigraphic zone 154
42. Flint chipped stone tool types by cultural phase . 155
43. Obsidian chipped stone tool types by stratigraphic zone 156
44. Obisidan chipped stone tool types by cultural phase . 157
45. Crystal chipped stone tool types by stratigraphic zone 158
46. Crystal chipped stone tool types by cultural phase .. 159
47. Number and percentage of core types at Ali Kosh, Chagha Sefid and Tepe Sabz 184
48. Cores and debitage to chipping debris at Ali Kosh, Chagha Sefid and Tepe Sabz 185
49. All chipping debris by cultural phase ......... . 186
50. Chipping debris by raw material and stratigraphic zone 187
51. Chipping debris by raw material and cultural phase 188
52. Grinding and pounding tools at Ali Kosh, Chagha Sefid and Tepe Sabz 198
53. Grinding slab types by stratigraphic zone 209
54. Grinding slab types by cultural phase 210
55. Handstones, pounders and pestles by stratigraphic zone 211
56. Handstones, pounders and pestles by cultural phase . . 212