Archeoseismicity and environmental crises at the Sialk Mounds, Central Iranian Plateau, since the Early Neolithic

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• 作者：Manuel Berberian^a ; ^b ; ^{manuel_berberian@ocean.edu} ; ^{manuel.berberian@gmail.com} ; S膩degh Malek Shahmirz膩di^c ; ^{malek16@gmail.com} ; Jebra'il Nokandeh^d ; ^{jnokandeh@yahoo.com} ; Morteza Djamali^e ; ^{morteza.djamali@imbe.fr} ; ^{morteza_djamali@yahoo.com}
• 关键词：Archeology ; Seismicity ; Active faulting ; Archeoseismicity ; Environmental crises ; Climate change ; Sialk ; Iran
• 刊名：Journal of Archaeological Science
• 出版年：2012
• 期刊代码：137_03054403
• 类别：soc
• 出版时间：September, 2012
• 卷：39
• 期：9
• 页码：2845-2858
• 文件大小：3582 K

摘要

During the long-lasting cultural sequences of the Shur膩beh and Sialk archeological mounds (6200-550聽BC) the inhabitants encountered numerous diversified crises along a narrow fertile passageway at the edge of the Central Iranian Plateau Great Desert. Some of the threats may be attributed to earthquakes, drastic climatic changes, and man-made environmental deterioration, which possibly led to the settlement withdrawing at different stages toward a more suitable location. Our study identified the occurrence of a large-magnitude earthquake around 3800聽BC along the K膩sh膩n fault, which is well-documented by various lines of circumstantial evidence, including: (i) numerous contemporaneous smashed skeletons and artifacts underneath collapsed walls and ceiling debris in several different areas; (ii) tilted and collapsed walls; (iii) nearly N-S oriented fallen large storage jars; and (iv) nearly vertical deep ground fractures cutting walls and floors of the Sialk III₅ South Mound settlement. Archeological data also shows additional stratigraphic discontinuities and damages that may be attributed to earthquakes. However, damage features in limited exposed trenches are less conclusive and require additional careful excavations. Apparent ancient paleo-architectural innovative attempts to enhance the coherency/elasticity of the structures and minimize earthquake damage to buildings were also noted, suggesting the indigenous earthquake hazard mitigation endeavor. There seems to be a correlation between some site abandonment dates and possible drastic regional draught/cooling events. The natural and anthropogenic impacts addressed in this study constituted major threats to the sensitive archeological settlements at the fringe of the desert and the vicinity of the K膩sh膩n active fault since antiquity.