Zagros Archaeological Researches

Zagros Archaeological Researches

Rescue Excavation of the Bardeh Mar Site: A Seasonal Habitation with Local Pottery from the Islamic Period, Hawraman Region, Western Iran

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Amir Saed Mucheshi 1
Meisam Nikzad 2
Morteza Zamani Dadane 3
Hossein Davoudi 4
Marjan Mashkour 4
Roya Khazaeli 5
1 Associate Professor of Iranian Archaeology, Faculty of Art and Architecture, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran
2 Assistant Professor of Archaeology, Department of Archaeology, Shiraz University of Art, Shiraz, Iran
3 Department of Archaeology, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
4 Archaeozoology section, Bioarchaeology Laboratory of the Central Laboratory, University of Tehran, Iran
5 University of Tehran, Department Archaeology, Tehran, Iran
10.22034/z.a.r.2025.728911
Abstract
The rescue excavations at Bardeh Mar, located in the mountainous Hawraman region of western Iran, were conducted in response to the risk of submergence caused by the construction of the Daryan Dam. The site was identified during systematic archaeological surveys in Sarvabad County and was excavated in 2015 through two carefully planned trenches. The main aim of this research was to document the stratigraphic sequence, chronological framework, architectural features, ceramic assemblages, and subsistence economy of the site’s past inhabitants. This study addresses a significant gap in the archaeological understanding of seasonal or temporary settlements in the region. The principal research questions focused on whether Bardeh Mar functioned as a permanent village or a seasonal encampment, what the main occupation phases were, and how the local communities adapted their economic strategies to the mountainous landscape. Methodologically, the project combined excavation, stratigraphic analysis, ceramic typology, absolute dating methods (radiocarbon and thermoluminescence), and ethnoarchaeological comparisons with local pastoral practices. Findings revealed circular dry-stone structures, plain handmade brown pottery, and animal bone remains that indicate a pastoral economy reliant on herding goats, sheep, and cattle. The lack of glazed ceramics and complex architectural features supports the interpretation that Bardeh Mar served as a seasonal winter campsite (Hawār) for local herders, providing access to lower-altitude pastures during harsh winters. This research demonstrates how archaeological data, when integrated with ethnographic evidence, can illuminate traditional adaptive strategies in marginal mountain environments. The study contributes valuable insights into local settlement dynamics, seasonal mobility, and the cultural continuity of pastoral lifeways in Hawraman during the Middle and Late Islamic periods. Bardeh Mar stands as an important example of how small-scale, temporary sites play a vital role in reconstructing broader patterns of land use and rural economy in the highlands of western Iran.


Keywords
Bardeh Mar
Hawraman
rescue excavation
Middle and Late Islamic period
seasonal habitation
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Zagros Archaeological Researches
Volume 2, Issue 1
June 2025
Pages 239-209

  • Receive Date 04 September 2025