Nishapur Revisited : Stratigraphy and Ceramics of the Qohandez

"Nishapur in eastern Iran was an important Silk Road city, its position providing links to central Asia and China, Afghanistan and India, the Persian Gulf and the west. Despite previous excavations there are many unresolved questions surrounding the site; when was the city founded? Is Nishapur a Sasanian city? Was it founded by the Sasanian king Shapur I or II? The question of chronology of occupation and the ceramic sequence is also problematic particularly for late antiquity and the medieval period, as well as a complete topography of the site. The Irano-French archaeological mission at Nishapur (2004 to 2007) (CNRS-MAEE-Musée du Louvre) focused on the Qohandez, or citadel, the oldest part of Nishapur. Excavations were conducted in different areas of the mound, in order to address these questions. After an introduction to the site and the former American and Iranian excavations, this book presents the stratigraphy and the pottery of the site. The difficulties involved in establishing a precise history of the site, as well as the complexities of studying the pottery led to a program of analysis undertaken by the Research Centre of French Museums (C2RMF). Chemical and petrographic analysis, thermoluminescence (TL) dating and archaeomagnetism analysis as support to the TL results were done. A pottery database has been created regrouping the stratigraphical and laboratory analyses data, in order to manage and present an organised corpus of 1000 samples. The combination of the data from the stratigraphical and laboratory analyses gives an accurate and completely new chronology of the site. Moreover, the study also brought to light a new typological sequence of the ceramic, as well as new data about the pottery production at Nishapur."--Publisher's website Nishapur in eastern Iran was an important Silk Road city, its position providing links to central Asia and China, Afghanistan and India, the Persian Gulf and the west. Despite previous excavations there are many unresolved questions surrounding the site; when was the city founded? Is Nishapur a Sasanian city? Was it founded by the Sasanian king Shapur I or II? The question of chronology of occupation and the ceramic sequence is also problematic particularly for late antiquity and the medieval period, as well as a complete topography of the site. The Irano-French archaeological mission at Nishapur (2004 to 2007) (CNRS-MAEE-Muse du Louvre) focused on the Qohandez, or citadel, the oldest part of Nishapur. Excavations were conducted in different areas of the mound, in order to address these questions. After an introduction to the site and the former American and Iranian excavations, this book presents the stratigraphy and the pottery of the site. The difficulties involved in establishing a precise history of the site, as well as the complexities of studying the pottery led to a program of analysis undertaken by the Research Centre of French Museums (C2RMF). Chemical and petrographic analysis, thermoluminescence (TL) dating and archaeomagnetism analysis as support to the TL results were done. A pottery database has been created regrouping the stratigraphical and laboratory analyses data, in order to manage and present an organized corpus of 1000 samples. The combination of the data from the stratigraphical and laboratory analyses gives an accurate and completely new chronology of the site. Moreover, the study also brought to light a new typological sequence of the ceramic, as well as new data about the pottery production at Nishapur. Table of Contents Introduction I - Historical and Geographical Background 1. Geographical setting 2. American and Iranian excavation synthesis 3. Historical setting II - The Excavation and the Absolute Chronology 1. Introduction to the Irano-French Excavation 2. Dating Problems 3. Thermoluminescence Analysis (TL) - Sample preparation - Measurement apparatus - Luminescence tests - Palaeodose - Annual dose - Numerical simulation - Results 4. The Archaeomagnetism Analysis as TL support for dating - The Archaeomagnetism Analysis - Sample collection and magnetic properties - Intensity experiments - Archaeointensity results - Conclusion 5. The Stratigraphical sequence - Test B - Test 10 - Test 26 - Test 27 6. Interpreting the Occupation Chronology and the Urban development III - Pottery study and analyses 1. Recording methodology 2. Questioning the the ceramic analysis program - Preliminary comments - The Petrographic and chemical analyses The clayey fabrics The fritwares - The glazed physical and chemical analyses - Where were the ceramics made? 3. Interpretating the analyses : the ceramic groups and their production IV - Chronology of the Qohandez pottery 1. Introduction to the Tests 2. Chronological sequence of the Qohandez pottery - Period I - Period II - Period IIIa - Period IIIb 3. Comparative study with the main Khorasanian sites Conclusion Nishapur In Eastern Iran Was An Important Silk Road City, Its Position Providing Links To Central Asia And China, Afghanistan And India, The Persian Gulf And The West. Despite Previous Excavations There Are Many Unresolved Questions Surrounding The Site; When Was The City Founded? Is Nishapur A Sasanian City? Was It Founded By The Sasanian King Shapur I Or Ii? The Question Of Chronology Of Occupation And The Ceramic Sequence Is Also Problematic Particularly For Late Antiquity And The Medieval Period, As Well As A Complete Topography Of The Site. The Irano-french Archaeological Mission At Nishapur (2004 To 2007) (cnrs-maee-musée Du Louvre) Focused On The Qohandez, Or Citadel, The Oldest Part Of Nishapur. Excavations Were Conducted In Different Areas Of The Mound, In Order To Address These Questions. After An Introduction To The Site And The Former American And Iranian Excavations, This Book Presents The Stratigraphy And The Pottery Of The Site. The Difficulties Involved In Establishing A Precise History Of The Site, As Well As The Complexities Of Studying The Pottery Led To A Program Of Analysis Undertaken By The Research Centre Of French Museums (c2rmf). Chemical And Petrographic Analysis, Thermoluminescence (tl) Dating And Archaeomagnetism Analysis As Support To The Tl Results Were Done. A Pottery Database Has Been Created Regrouping The Stratigraphical And Laboratory Analyses Data, In Order To Manage And Present An Organised Corpus Of 1000 Samples. The Combination Of The Data From The Stratigraphical And Laboratory Analyses Gives An Accurate And Completely New Chronology Of The Site. Moreover, The Study Also Brought To Light A New Typological Sequence Of The Ceramic, As Well As New Data About The Pottery Production At Nishapur.--publisher's Website. Introduction -- Historical And Geographical Background. Geographical Setting ; American And Iranian Excavation Synthesis ; Historical Setting. -- The Excavation And The Absolute Chronology. Introduction To The Irano-french Excavation ; Dating Problems ; Thermoluminescence Analysis (tl) ; The Archaeomagnetism Analysis As Tl Support For Dating ; The Stratigraphical Sequence ; Interpreting The Occupation Chronology And The Urban Development. -- Pottery Study And Analyses. Recording Methodology ; Questioning The Material: The Ceramic Analysis Program ; Interpretating The Analyses : The Ceramic Groups And Their Production. -- Chronology Of The Qohandez Pottery. Introduction To The Tests ; Chronological Sequence Of The Qohandez Pottery ; Comparative Study With The Main Khorasanian Sites. -- Conclusion. 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). Includes Bibliographical References. Cover 1 Foreword 8 Acknowledgements 9 List of Illustrations 10 List of Tables 13 Introduction 14 Chapter I. Historical and Geographical Background 18 Chapter II. The Excavation and the Absolute Chronology 30 Chapter III. Pottery Study and Analyses 73 Chapter IV. Chronology of the Qohandez Pottery 153 Conclusion 221 Bibliography 224 Nishapur in eastern Iran was an important Silk Road city, its position providing links to central Asia and China, Afghanistan and India, the Persian Gulf and the west. This volume examines findings from the Irano–French archaeological mission at Nishapur (2004–07), presenting the stratigraphy and site pottery.