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D.T. POTTS & K. ROUSTAEI (ed.) The Mamasani Archaeological Project: Stage One. A report on the first two seasons of the ICAR--University of Sydney expedition to the Mamasani District, Fars [...]

Although important archaeological remains, such as Greek inscriptions and architectural elements are known from Nahavand since several decennia, it lasted until 2005 before a first exploratory season with excavations took place, followed by a second one in 2011. So far this research has led to important observations for the Seleucid and Parthian periods, but it is still too early to be able to locate with precision the temple in honour of Laodike, wife of Antiochus III. However, this temple is most likely to be located in the northwestern part of the town since several Seleucid/Parthian architectural remains have been found there. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ernst Herzfed made mention of the discovery in 1928 of a Bronze Age tomb at Gilviran, some 5 km from Khorramabad in Luristan. He discussed the site briefly and illustrated some of the finds; two of the bronze vases were later acquired by the British Museum. Since it was one of the few tombs in Pish-i Kuh, Luristan on which some reliable information was known, the Gilviran discovery is mentioned in most studies on Luristan. Nevertheless, little more than a description and a few illustrations of some of the finds were available. A more complete picture of the Gilviran tomb is now presented based on Herzfeld's original notes and the identification of a preserved section of the tomb on the outskirts of present day Khorramabad. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An Iron Age graveyard, for the most part dating from the 8th - 7th century BC, was accidentally discovered in 2008 during road works near Sanandaj, Iranian Kurdistan. Rescue excavations were conducted by the Cultural Heritage Department in Sanandaj. The present contribution reports on these first excavations during which more than 20 graves were discovered in two squares and a trench. A selection of the graves and the burial goods are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The painted pottery of the first half of the Early Bronze Age in Luristan (Pusht-i Kuh and Pish-i Kuh) is rather badly documented. Most information comes from grave-contexts, although on the whole the information is limited. Two main categories are to be distinguished: a bichrome/polychrome as well as a monochrome group. There are distinct regions with a different pottery tradition. Evidence from Susa, Godin Tepe and other sites is included, as well as information provided by Mesopotamian sites. An attempt is being made to outline the regional diversity and a chronology is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

«Greek stamped amphorae discovered at Susa (SW Iran)». During his excavations, now more than fifty years ago, Roman Ghirshman has found in the area of the so called necropolis of the 'Ville des Artisans' at Susa, a few complete and fragmentary amphorae with stamped handles, most of them Rhodian. Another Rhodian stamp was uncovered during his excavations at the Apadana. They are to be situated in the last quarter of the 3rd/first quarter of the 2nd century BC and can now be added to the known corpus of amphorae stamps found in numerous parts in the Near East. A complete amphora is likely to bear two unique types of stamps, one of them mentioning almost certainly the eponym … and turns out to be an important addition to the general corpus of (early) Rhodian stamps. Because of the recent developments in the study of the chronology of Rhodian stamps (the "chronologie basse" of Gérald Finkielsztejn), two more examples from Susa found by Roland de Mecquenem and previously published by Franz Cumont are equally reconsidered. However, all together they seem to be among the rare stamped amphorae that have been found so far in Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Etched beads from northeast and southeast Arabia are usually not cited in connection with east-west trade, because they remain unknown to most scholars. There is ample evidence, however, from sites on the Arabian shores of the Persian Gulf that the region participated in active trade during several periods. Etched beads are one of the commodities testifying to the existence of maritime links. A high percentage of the etched beads found belong to the Early Bronze Age and the Pré-islamique récent (PIR)-period, although other periods are also represented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]