Abstract:
To recognize the dynamic of vegetation in eastern Iran as well as to ascertain interactions of human societies with their environment, the present study is carried out on charcoal samples collected from Shahr-i Sokhta dated back to the Bronze Age. This research will present two different vegetal formations used by the inhabitants of Shahr-i Sokhta: riparian formation with species such as tamarisk (Tamarix) and willow (Salix) and steppe taxa like Chenopodiaceae and saltwort
(Salsola). By comparing charcoal data with those of present flora, certain changes concerning the vegetation structure in this part of Iran have been identified. These changes are best explained in terms of anthropogenic or environmental factors. The major presence of riparian taxa in the studied samples indicates that Sistan had favorable environmental conditions in the third millennium B. C. The study also concludes that the ancient vegetation of southern delta of Sistan
have been relatively richer than the existing situation.
Machine summary:
This situation had allowed the growth of plants (like tamarisk) that are resistant to a dry climate and saline soils along the active and dried bed of rivers and irrigation canals (Costantini and Tosi 1978: 176-179; Sobhkhyzi et (View the image of this page) Fig. 1: Hydrological map of Sistan (After:Whitney 2006).
IRANIAN JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL STUDIES 2: 1 (2012) Vegetation Dynamic of Southern 30 Four main periods have been proposed for the site based on calibrated dates, covering a span of time from 3200 to 1850 B.
The observation of charcoals has been possible by means of a reflected-light microscope allowing magnifications Archaeobotanical Assemblage In total, 1493 charcoals have been studied resulting in identification of various taxa such as tamarisk (Tamarix), willow (Salix), goosefoot family (Chenopodiaceae) and saltwort (Salsola).
IRANIAN JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL STUDIES 2: 1 (2012) Vegetation Dynamic of Southern 32 (View the image of this page) Fig. 3: Tamarix sp.
IRANIAN JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL STUDIES 2: 1 (2012) Vegetation Dynamic of Southern 34 Discussion The identified taxa at Shahr-i Sokhta belong to two main vegetal formations.
IRANIAN JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL STUDIES 2: 1 (2012) 35 Rouhollah Shirazi & Zohreh Shirazi permanent water source (Rud-i Biyaban) near the protohistoric site of Shahr-i Sokhta.
According to our studies, the variety of identified species at Shahr-i Sokhta are limited and therefore do not reflect precisely the flora of Sistan in the Bronze Age. At the moment it is not possible to reconstruct completely the ancient vegetation of this part of Iranian Plateau.