Qapan Tepe Dates Back to Chalcolithic Era - CAIS Archaeological & Cultural News of the Iranian World©

LONDON, (CAIS) -- Sounding works (High-Frequency Seismic Sounding System) by the archeologists of Cultural Heritage and Tourism Department of Miandoab in Shahin Dez led to discovery of 10 different historical layers, based on which the archeologists concluded that this historical hill must have dated back to the Chalcolithic era (4800-4100 BCE). Still more comprehensive studies are needed to be carried out on this hill to determine its exact date.

“Sounding works in Qapan Tepe resulted in identifying 10 settlement layers in this hill. The lower layer dates back to the Chalcolithic epoch, a period that falls sometime between 4800 and 4100 BCE,” said Farangis Mirzayi, head of archeology team in Qapan Tepe historical site.

According to her, identifying some earthenware evidence similar to those discovered in Yanic Tepe, revealed the existence of settlement in this area during the Bronze Age. Molding plaster decorations on the earthenware was a common feature in Yanic Tepe clays, dated to the fifth to fourth millennia BCE.

Archeologists have also succeeded in discovering traces of three distinct periods in the Bronze Age during sounding works in Qapan Tepe including those belonging to the second and first millennia BCE, the Sassanian dynastic dynasty (224-651 CE), and different post-Sasanian periods.

“Soundings have resulted in discovery of very superb golden enameled earthenware, some of which bear Kufic inscriptions. The existing evidence suggests that this area was an important center during different post-Sasanian era (651-850 CE) and Islamic period to the Ilkhanid era (1256-1336 CE).

Moreover, Mirzayi believes that the remains of glass dishes in the area show the existence of glassblowing industry in the region during different post-Sasanian and Islamic periods.

Some architectural evidence belonging to the Mannaean culture (first millennium BCE) and Islamic period have also been identified during archeological excavations in the area. “The architectural remains belonging to the Mannaeans are mainly earthenware constructions, while in construction of the ones which belong to the Islamic period, stone has been applied as well,” she added

The historical hill of Qapan Tepe covers a vast area in the center of the city of Shahin Dez, on the west bank of Zarineh Rud River located southeast of West Azarbaijan province in North-West of Iran.

The Chalcolithic (Greek khalkos + lithos 'copper stone') period, also known as the Eneolithic (Aeneolithic) or Copper Age period, is a phase in the development of human culture in which the use of early metal tools appeared alongside the use of stone tools.

Extracted From/Source: CHN

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