Sasanian and Islamic Settlement and Ceramics in Southern Ira…

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This monograph presents new archaeological data on the economic development of southern Iran and the Persian Gulf coast from the Sasanian period to the end of the 17th century.

This monograph comprises the final publication of a study supported by the British Institute of Persian Studies and undertaken by Seth Priestman and Derek Kennet at the University of Durham. The work presents and analyses an assemblage of just under 17,000 sherds of pottery and associated paper archives resulting from one of the largest and most comprehensive surveys ever undertaken on the historic archaeology of southern Iran. The survey was undertaken by Andrew George Williamson (1945–1975), a doctoral student at Oxford University between 1968 and 1971, at a time of great progress and rapid advance in the archaeological exploration of Iran.

The monograph provides new archaeological evidence on the long-term development of settlement in Southern Iran, in particular the coastal region, from the Sasanian period to around the 17th century. The work provides new insights into regional settlement patterns and changing ceramic distribution, trade and use. A large amount of primary data is presented covering an extensive area from Minab to Bushehr along the coast and inland as far as Sirjan. This includes information on a number of previously undocumented archaeological sites, as well as a detailed description and analysis of the ceramic finds, which underpin the settlement evidence and provide a wider source of reference.

By collecting carefully controlled archaeological evidence related to the size, distribution and period of occupation of urban and rural settlements distributed across southern Iran, Williamson aimed to reconstruct the broader historical development of the region. Due to his early death the work was never completed. The key aims of the authors of this volume were to do justice to Williamson’s remarkable vision and efforts on the one hand, and at the same time to bring this important new evidence to ongoing discussions about the development of southern Iran through the Sasanian and Islamic periods.

Table of Contents

List of figures
List of tables
Preface
Conventions and explanatory notes
Acknowledgements

1. Introduction

2. The Williamson Collection
2.1 An archaeological career
2.2 Survey methodology and concept
2.3 Processing the Collection

3. Testing the reliability of the survey
3.1 Issues of interpreting the data
3.2 Site card analysis
3.3 Stein/Williamson comparison
3.4 The Bushehr Hinterland Survey (2004–2005)
3.5 The Hormuzgan Survey (2005)
3.6 The Williamson Collection in Tehran
3.7 Reliability of the survey results

4. Regional settlement patterns
4.1 Regional surveys
4.2 Analysis of settlement change

5. Patterns of ceramic distribution
5.1 Regional reorientation of ceramic production
5.2 Eastern trade

6. Conclusion

Appendix I — Class catalogue
Appendix II — Fabric catalogue
Appendix III — Site catalogue
Appendix IV – Pottery forms
Colour plates
Published sources
Williamson archive sources

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BZG5WV8F
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Oxbow Books
Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 31, 2023
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 512 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 8888570527
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-8888570525
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 4.74 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.25 x 1.25 x 11.75 inches
Best Sellers Rank: #2,295,304 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #541 in Iran History #3,361 in Archaeology (Books)