Journal of Iran's Pre Islamic Archaeological Essays

Journal of Iran's Pre Islamic Archaeological Essays

Technology of Manufacturing Objects From Organic Materials and Its Impact on the Economy and Trade

Authors
Abstract
Northwest Iran is one of the main areas in the Iranian Iron Age. Some of the most important objects found in this area are objects made from organic materials which are carbon based compounds. These materials are of special importance in archaeology due to their non-durability in environment. Majority of the objects made from organic materials in Northwestern Iran have been found in 9 settlement sites and cemeteries. Considering the importance of these objects from technical, application, commercial, and socio-economic points of view, and their impact on the Iron Age societies, this research intends to study these aspects and answer the following questions: Which techniques were used in manufacturing such objects? What was the role of trans-regional trade in manufacturing and development of these objects? What was the impact of manufacturing such objects on the socio-economic structure of that era? The results of this study, which has been conducted based on library resources and analytical methods, indicated that objects made from organic materials such as oysters, ivory and some types of wood, were imported to this area in the form of raw materials, intermediate or final products by either tradesmen from Northwest of Iran or by Assyrians or Zagros residents which revealed trans-regional links between them. Also, manufacturing these objects led to economic growth in the area and created different classes of craftsmen who in turn influenced the economy, art, and created various professions in the area. Different methods have been used to shape the objects.
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