Tureng Tepe

View of the village of Tureng Tepe from its archaeological hill.

Tureng Tepe (Persian: تورنگ تپه, "Hill of the Pheasants")[1] (alternatively spelled in English as Turang Tappe/Tape/Tappa/Tappeh) is an archaeological site in northeastern Iran, in the Gorgan plain,[2][3] approximately 17 km northeast of the town of Gorgan.[4]

Tureng Tepe consists of a group of mounds interspersed with ponds and water courses. The whole archaeological pattern is about 800 – 900 m in diameter. Most of the mounds rise between 11 and 15 m above the level of the surrounding plan, but the steep central mound, marked A on the Wulsin's plan, is over 30 m high and dominated the entire site.

The oldest remains on the site date to the Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods. The Bronze Age settlement portion of the site dates from approximately 3100-2900 BC through 1900 BC.[5] In 1841, some material (including gold vessels) from the site was sent to the Shah (Mohammad Shah Qajar), and examined by Clement Augustus (C.A.) de Bode, piquing initial modern interest in the site.[1][6] The first modern excavations were done by Frederick Wulsin in 1931, sponsored by the Atkins Museum of Fine Arts.[5] Grey ware pottery from the site was found and studied.[7] In the mid-20th century, the site (a hill) had a height of approximately 30m. In 1959, Jean Deshayes (1924–1979)[8] rediscovered the site, and regular excavations began soon after until 1979.[9]

Chronology

Neolithic and Chalcolithic

Bronze Age

Iron Age

Historical time

During the Bronze Age, Tureng Tepe was likely a thriving settlement.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Rostovtzeff, M. The Sumerian Treasure of Astrabad, in The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, Vol. 6, No. 1 (Jan., 1920), pp. 4–27
  2. The pioneer of pre-history, The National (Abu Dhabi) (October 12, 2009)
  3. Potts, D.T. Mesopotamia: The Material Foundation (Athlone Press 1997) (ISBN 0-485-93001-3)
  4. Achaemenid history, p. 124–126 (1988)
  5. 1 2 Moreau, Kathy. Tureng Tepe, Iran expedition records (finding aid) (University of Pennsylvania, Penn Museum Archives, 2010), Retrieved July 19, 2010
  6. Coon, Carleton S. Caravan – The Story of Middle East, p. 221 (1958)
  7. Encyclopædia Iranica, CERAMICS ix. The Bronze Age in Northeastern Persia, Retrieved July 19, 2010
  8. NOTICES NECROLOGIQUES: Jean DESHAYES (1924–1979), Paleorient (1979), Vol. 5, Issue 5, p.7
  9. Leriche, Pierre. Fouilles de Tureng Tepe I (Review), Syria, 1994, vol. 71, n° 1, pp. 239–242.
  10. Deshayes, Jean (1977). "A propos des terrasses hautes de la fin du IIIe millénaire en Iran et en Asie centrale" IN Le Plateau iranien et l'Asie Centrale des origines à la Conquête islamique. Paris: Editions du CNRS. pp. 95–111.

Additional sources

Coordinates: 36°55′53″N 54°34′59″E / 36.93139°N 54.58306°E / 36.93139; 54.58306

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