جای نام های منسوب به محدودۀ سرپل زهاب از هزارۀ سوم پ.م تا اوایل دوران اسلامی

جای‌نام‌ها در آشکار ساختن اطلاعات موجود در یک منطقه از نظر تاریخی، جغرافیایی و زبان‌شناسی اهمیت فراوانی دارند. منطقة سرپل‌زهاب به دلیل موقعیت جغرافیایی ویژه‌ای که دارد همواره به عنوان یک منطقة حائل ارتباطی بین دشت‌های پست بین‌النهرین و ارتفاعات زاگرس مورد توجه بوده است. در شواهد باستان‌شناسی متعددی از جمله کتیبه‌ها، کودوروها، مهرها، نقشه‌های جغرافیایی و منابع مکتوب از زمان سلسله‌های قدیم سومر تا اوایل دوران اسلامی، از این منطقه با عناوین مختلف یاد شده است. خَلمَن، خالونیتیس، خالا، آلبانیا، حُلوان، حلح، بلاشفر و شاذفیروز از جمله نام‌های مرتبط با این محدودة جغرافیایی است. هدف از پژوهش حاضر در مرحله نخست بررسی جای‌نام‌های منسوب به این حوزۀ مکانی در ادوار مختلف و سپس ثبت و ضبط اطلاعات موجود در منابع متعدد به منظور تهیۀ جدول گونه-شناسی جای‌نام‌های این منطقه و ثبت رویدادهای سیاسی- فرهنگی مربوط به آن است که در نهایت به درک بهتر شرایط سیاسی، فرهنگی، اقتصادی و نوع استقرارهای این منطقه کمک می‌کند. نتیجة پژوهش پیشِ‌ رو گویای این مسئله است که علاوه بر تنوع در جای‌نام‌های به کار برده شده برای این منطقه، شاهد گوناگونی و پویایی مذاهب متعدد در این محدودة جغرافیایی بوده و هم‌چنین بسیاری از فعالیت‌های سیاسی و عمرانی نیز در این محل انجام گرفته است. انگیزه و هدف انتخاب اغلب نام‌های منسوب به این منطقه قابل تشخیص نیست اما حاکمیت سیاسی و محیط جغرافیایی را می‌توان به عنوان مولفه‌های اصلی در این انتساب‌ها در نظر گرفت.

the place names of sarpol-e zahab region from third millennium bce to the early islamic period

abstractplace names play a significant role in revealing information about a region in terms of history, geography, and linguistics. due to its uique geographical location, the sarpol-e zahab region has long been considered a connecting region between the mesopotamian plains and the zagros highlands. numerous archaeological finds, including inscriptions, kudurrus, seals, geographical maps and written sources, from the time of the early dynasties of sumer to the early islamic period, refer to this region by various names. ḫalman, chalonitis, chala, albania, hulwan, halah, walashfarr, and shadh firuz are some of the names associated with this geographical area. the aim of this research is, firstly, to study the place names attributed to this area in different periods and, secondly, to record the information available in various sources in order to draw up a typology table of the place names relating to this area. this will help us to better understand the political, cultural, and economic conditions and the types of settlements in this region. the results show that, in addition to the variety of the place names used for this region, it has witnessed the diversity and dynamics of multiple religions as well as many political and civil activities. while the motivation and purpose behind most of the names attributed to this region cannot be discerned, political governance and the geographical environment can be considered the main factors in these attributions.keywords: typology, place name, sarpol-e zahab, ḫalman, hulwan, walashfarr.introductionthe study of toponyms is a field that provides valuable insights from linguistic, archaeological, geographical, and historical perspectives for reconstructing the cultural landscape of any region. each toponym essentially has a long history behind it. researchers believe that names given to a region were designated by individuals within a specific timeframe and for particular reasons, and sometimes these names have changed over time due to various factors (tent, 2015: 67). in archaeological studies, examining material culture, form, function, and location can also help determine the timing and reason behind the selection of a toponym (jones, 2016). the sarpol-e zahab area, due to its unique geographical location as part of the extension of the great khorasan road, has always been a significant settlement hub between the zagros mountains and the lowlands of eastern mesopotamia, attracting various communities from prehistoric times to the present. because of its strategic location, sarpol-e zahab has been referred to as the &gate of asia& by some orientalists (herzfeld, 1920:1). this geographical and settlement significance has led to the use of various names over different periods, including ḫalman, chalonitis, chala, albania, hulwan, halah, walashfarr, and shadh firuz. while the motivations behind some of the names attributed to the sarpol-e zahab region are not always discernible, in some cases, one can observe the influence of the environment or the prevailing political power in the area. the objective of the present research is to identify and classify the toponyms associated with the sarpol-e zahab region from the early dynasties of sumer to the early islamic period. efforts will also focus on clarifying the types of documents that reference this region and to determine the information that can be extracted from these documents. research methodthis research methodology is based on library studies with a historical approach. this study aims to examine and analyze the cultural landscape of sarpol-e zahab from the third millennium bce to the early islamic period, using various texts and documents. ultimately, efforts have been made to identify the different toponyms associated with this cultural landscape and, if possible, to investigate the factors influencing the selection of these place names. conclusionsarpol-e zahab, due to its location along the major route of greater khorasan, its proximity to the powerful states of mesopotamia, and its status as a border region at various times, has always attracted significant attention. the political and cultural events, as well as the environmental and geographical conditions associated with this area, have been extensively documented in historical and archaeological sources. this geographical location, along with its favorable environmental conditions, has played a crucial role in attracting human groups from ancient times to the present day. according to numerous sources, ranging from the early dynasties of sumer to the early islamic period, associated with the historical geography of sarpol-e zahab, various names and terms such as ḫalman, chalonitis, chala, albania, hulwan, halah, walashfarr, and shadh firuz have been used for this region. among these names, the term ḫalman was used from the old babylonian period to the neo-assyrian era in inscriptions, which can indicate the political and geographical significance of this region. during the seleucid and parthian periods, place names such as chala and chalonitis were mentioned, while during the sasanian and islamic periods, names like hulwan, walashfarr, and shadh firuz were associated with this region. while the reasons for using some of these names are not clear, it appears that the selection of the place name ḫalman and its likely continuity as hulwan in later periods may have been influenced by the environmental conditions of the region, likely due to the flow of the alvand river. in addition to environmental factors, political considerations have also played a significant role in the selection of place names for this region, as evidenced by some titles that include the names of sasanian kings.  while the motivations and meanings behind some of these terms used for the region are not clearly traceable through historical-archaeological studies, detailed linguistic studies can potentially supplement these shortcomings. syriac sources have been overlooked as a significant resource in studies of the sasanian period, particularly in examining the political and cultural events of this region and the broader zagros region. examining these sources reveals the presence of kings and high-ranking officials in the region, elucidates many names and positions, religious events, constructions, religious minorities, the transition of cities from diocesan to metropolitan status, describes the geographical environment, and traces the routes taken by rulers and kings in the sarpol-e zahab region.