Early Bronze Age

The petrographic analysis of ceramics can often answer a wide variety of archaeological questions, especially regarding fabrication, manufacturing processes which were despite focused on the construction and trade of pottery. However, ceramics which were collected from the same site can mostly differ in their chemistry as well as fabrics. As is applied in many cases, essential archaeological survey and documentations in a theoretical framework are key to the proper application of ceramic petrography through the archaeometrical research. This paper deals with the petrographically approach on Kura-Araxes or Early Bronze Age ceramics manufacturing processes of Sonqor Plain. It is of worth-knowing to contribute that the contact and exchange strategies between indigenous communities and several cultural-spheres during Early Bronze Age (beginning of the fourth millennium BC) in this area. Morphological data along with mineralogical composition of ceramics were applied to determine the major elements of the pottery sherds. Based on the result, one can be suggested that all of sherds are in the same group and were demonstrated mightily local productions. The ceramic manufacturing technology indicates same patterns of material interactions during the ETC or Kura-Araxes in all of the investigated sites in Sonqor Plain.

Hezar Masjed and Shahneshin mountain ranges can be considered amongst the easternmost heights of Iran in Khorasan Razavi Province, which stretch in the northwest-southeast direction and have created a natural corridor leading to the Harirud River banks. This feature, along with favorable living conditions, has attracted human communities and habitats for a long time. The historical site of -Sarab Tepe- is one of these settlements, which is located 30km west of Saleh Abad County and at the northeast of a village of the same name. Abundant and diverse cultural materials on the surface of the site and archaeological reports show the importance of this site in terms of archaeological studies. Therefore, this research is carried out to understand the eras of settlement and its cultural interactions. The results show that this site was home to settlements in the prehistoric era (Early Bronze Age) and the Islamic era (9th to 11th century AD). Sarab Tepe’s findings from the prehistoric era indicate its cultural interactions and connections with other sites of the Early Bronze Age in northeastern Iran. The findings belonging to the Islamic era are also similar to the findings of Neyshabur. The results show the extensive connections of this site with the most important cultural centers of its time.