An Archaeological Study of Marash(6) Site: Evidence of a Parthian Settlement in Mahneshan, Zanjan
Keywords: Marash, Salvage excavation, archaeological, Parthian,
Abstract :
The Marash (6) archaeological site was first documented in 2014 during a systematic survey of the Marash Dam catchment area, located in Mahneshan County, Zanjan Province. It was identified by archaeologists from the Zanjan Provincial Office of the Iranian Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization (ICHHTO) as one of the sixteen ancient sites within the Marash complex and was initially attributed to the Iron age and the Parthian period. After a five-year hiatus, archaeological investigations in the Marash Dam basin resumed in 2019 with a salvage excavation at the Marash 6 site conducted by the present author. The site was selected for excavation due to its elevation relative to the reservoir’s normal water level, its cultural significance, and winter accessibility. Three trenches and one test trench were excavated, revealing architectural remains covering an area of approximately 132 square meters. These remains included four architectural spaces constructed with river stones and mud mortar, compacted earth and stone-paved floors, and two hearths. The cultural materials recovered from this site include sherds of utilitarian pottery, stone tools such as grinding stones and mortars and faunal remains od domesticated animals. Attribution of these remains to the Parthian period is supported by typological analysis of ceramic forms and decorative motifs, as well as thermoluminescence dating of selected pottery samples.
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