تعاملات فرهنگی منطقۀ شمال‌غرب ایران و قفقاز جنوبی در دورۀ مس‌و‌سنگ

شمال غرب ایران و قفقاز جنوبی ازلحاظ زیست محیطی، شرایط نسبتاً مناسبی برای شکل گیری استقرارهای باستانی دارند؛ ازجمله می توان به حوضۀ دریاچۀ ارومیه و سواحل اَرس در شمال غرب ایران و حوضه های رود کورا، میل مغان (مناطق کوهستانی) در منطقۀ قفقاز جنوبی اشاره کرد. شواهد باستان شناختی و تحقیقات انجام یافتۀ اخیر در دو حوزۀ جغرافیایی، اشتراکات و تشابهات فرهنگی دورۀ مذکور را به میان می گذارد. هدف اصلی در این مقاله، معرفی محوطه ها و سنت های سفالی و مشخص ساختن توالی گاهنگاری در مناطق موردمطالعه است. برای دستیابی به تعاملات فرهنگی در حوزۀ جغرافیایی موردمطالعه در دورۀ مس وسنگ پرسش های ذیل مطرح می گردد؛ وضیعت توالی گاهنگاری در دو حوزۀ فرهنگی چگونه است؟ فرضیۀ اصلی در این ارتباط، وجود گاهنگاری (آغاز و پایان دورۀ مس وسنگ) تقریباً همسان در دو نقطۀ جغرافیایی است. لایه های استقراری و توالی سکونت از دورۀ نوسنگی به دورۀ مس وسنگ در محوطه های باستانی، موضوع تداوم و انتقال فرهنگی را چگونه نشان می دهد؟ نگارش پیشِ رو، با روش توصیفیتحلیلی صورت می گیرد. به عنوان نتیجۀ نهایی می توان به تشابهات و تفاوت های داده های باستان شناختی، ازجمله به ویژگی های سفالی، ساختار معماری، تدفین و... اشاره کرد که با مطالعۀ محوطه هایی مانند دالما تپه، کول تپۀ جلفا، دَوَ گوز خوی و... در شمال غرب ایران و لیلا تپه، قالایری، پویلو تپه، بویوک کسیک، سویوق بولاق، بریکیل دیبی، کاوتسخِوی، تخوت در منطقۀ قفقاز جنوبی به دست آمده است و ازلحاظ گاهنگاری از 5000 تا 3700/3600 پ.م. را شامل می شود.

Cultural Interactions Between the Northwestern Iran and the South Caucasus in the Chalcolithic Period

AbstractNorthwestern Iran and the South Caucasus have relatively favorable environmental conditions for the formation of ancient settlements. These include the Urmia Lake basin and the Aras shores in northwestern Iran, and the Kura River, the MilMoghan (mountainous areas) in the South Caucasus region. The archaeological evidences and recent researches in two geographical areas illustrate the cultural shares and similarities of the period. The main purpose of this article is to introduce the areas and pottery traditions and to identify the sequence of chronology in the areas of study. The following questions will be raised in order to achieve cultural interactions in the geographical area studied in the Chalcolithic Period: How is the condition of chronology sequence in the two cultural domains? The main hypothesis in this regard is the existence of approximately the same chronology (the beginning and the end of the Chalcolithicperiod) in the two geographical locations. How do the layers of settlement and the sequences of residence from the Neolithic to the Chalcolithic Periodin ancient sites indicate the theme of cultural continuity and transition? The present article is written by descriptiveanalytical method. As a final result, it can be pointed to the similarities and differences of the archaeological data, including thepottery features, architectural structures, burials, etc. By studying the areas such as Dalma Tepe, Jolfa’s Kul Tepe, Khoy’s Davagöz, etc. in northwest of Iran and Leila Tepe, Galayeri, Puylu Tepe, Boyuk Kəsik, Soyuq Bulagh, Brikil Dibi, Kawtskhevy, Tekhvot have been obtained in the South Caucasus region and chronologically covers the millennium from 5000 BC to 3700/3600 BC. Keywords: Chalcolithic, Northwestern Iran, South Caucasus, Cultural Interactions, Chronology.IntroductionThe northwest of Iran and the Caucasus have long been a prominent site for archaeological studies due to their proximity to important cultural sites such as Anatolia, Zagros, Mesopotamia and Central Asia. Most of the ancient sites both in the Caucasus region and in the northwestern Iran, which were inhabited by the Chalcolithic period, were also inhabited during the Neolithic period, suggesting that the human and animal habitat conditions and the environmental conditions are favorable. The following questions will be raised in order to achieve the cultural interactions in the geographical area under study in the Chalcolithic Period: 1. What is the status of the chronologysequence in the two cultural areas? The main hypothesis in this regard is the existence of a same chronology (beginning and end of the Chalcolithic Period) at two geographical points. 2. How do the layers of settlement and settlement sequences from the Neolithic to the Chalcolithic Periodsindicate ancient sites, cultural status, and the cultural continuity and transition themes? Most of the ancient sites both in the Caucasus region and in the northwestern Iran, which were inhabited by the CopperStone period, were also inhabited during the Neolithic period, indicating the existence of afavorablehabitat and environmental conditions for both human and animal. Although there are also singleperiod enclosures among them.DiscussionIn recent years, one of the most significant issues in introducing and studying the Chalcolithic culture of northwestern Iran havebeen the ambiguity and darkness in the timing chronology of the Chalcolithic Period of this region. Because, this period was introduced after the late Neolithic period, was identified in areas such as Haji Firouz, Hassanlu, Yaniq Tepe, etc., with a break of almost a thousand years. Dr Abedi’s recent years’ excavations atJolfa’s Kul Tepe and Khoy’sDəvə Göz have eliminated the gap in the timing of the Chalcolithic Period of northwestern Iran (Azarbaijan). The archaeological studies are divided in twostages; and its early stage dates back to the 19th century and is known as the Eneolit cultural period. The archaeologists in the North Caucasus geographical area of have identified two culturaltypes of KuraArax and Maikop in the Chalcolithic Period, hence, the two Kura and Araxrivers in the Caucasus Basin are named as the Mesopotamia of Caucasus.One of the most important cultural data of the Chalcolithic Period is the rectangular architectural structures which are made of white raw clay. Inside the structure, large crumbs, food storage wells and numerous stoves, along with the data such as mortar, and grindstone, and burned remnants of grains such as barley, wheat and lentils have been obtained. The burial variety ofthe Chalcolithic Period is more diverse than the Neolithic period. The most repeated type of burial in the Chalcolithic Period is the pits burial, but more recently therehave also been found two other burial types such as burial in earthenware, and kurganburial.ConclusionOne of the most important issues of Chalcolithic culture in the South Caucasus is anunbroken continuation of the Chalcolithic Period after the Neolithic period. This continuation can be seen in Mentesh Tepe, Aratashen, Khatun Ark Aknashen, and theChalcolithic Period begins unbroken after the Neolithic periodin these areas. But after the Neolithic period, the Old Bronze Age beginsinNakhchivan’s Kul Tepe. Scientists consider the climate change as the main cause of cultural disruption. In the southern Caucasus, the earlyChalcolithic phasehas been dated from 4800/5000 to 4600 BC, and themiddle andthe lateChalcolithic phases from 4600 to 3200 BC, and some new areas, such as Nakhchivan Tepe, Uchan Aghil, Uzun Oba, is derived from the earlyChalcolithic Period that are closely related to Dalma culture.