Maritime Aspects of Medieval Siraf, Iran: a pilot project for the investigation of coastal and underwater archaeological remains

Khakzad, Sorna; Trakadas, Athena; Harpster, Matthew; Wittig, Nicole

doi:10.1111/1095-9270.12085

Cited by 12 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…9). Our reconstructed change rates in zone 3 are consistent with data from Khakzad et al (2015a), who describe, between 1973 and 2012, total coastal retreat of around 8 m on the southern flank of Siraf's old coastal mosque (52°20′ 06″42 E; 27°40′ 02″49 N). This rate is consistent with the value of 8.6 m (average −0.2 m yr −1 ) that we obtained in the same area for the period 1973 to 2016.…”

Section: Zonesupporting

confidence: 89%

“…The erosion of Siraf's archaeological remains has been highlighted by a number of recent publications (e.g. Khakzad, Trakadas, Harpster, & Wittig, 2015a) but quantitative estimates to assess the spatial and temporal dimensions of these changes have been hitherto lacking. As an ancient port city, Siraf possesses extensive waterfront archaeology, where geomorphic processes are particularly active and capable of exacerbating this erosion potential.…”

Section: Research Aims and Archaeological Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Archaeological understanding of Siraf is based largely on the work of Whitehouse and colleagues who extensively excavated the site during the 1960s and early 1970s. More recently, the waterfront archaeology of Siraf has been investigated by Khakzad et al (2015a).…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Tracking shoreline erosion of “at risk” coastal archaeology: the example of ancient Siraf (Iran, Persian Gulf)

et al. 2018

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Successful heritage management requires a robust comprehension of the threats facing archaeological sites, at both current and future timescales. Siraf, on the Persian Gulf of Iran, is a site of national and international importance whose history stretches back to the Sassanid period (224-652 AD). In the present context of global change (drought and relative sea-level rise) and anthropogenic impacts (coastal artificialization and reduced sediment supply), the city's waterfront archaeology is undergoing significant erosion. Nonetheless, at present, the processes leading to the loss of Siraf's in situ archaeological remains are still poorly understood, including the rates, timing and drivers of coastal erosion. Here we use Landsat images to monitor shoreline changes along the Siraf coastline between 1973 and 2016. We spatially quantify the causes and impacts of surface changes along 244 transects. The results demonstrate that coastal erosion is responsible for widespread and archaeologically significant damage, with 48% of the studied transects showing erosion during the period 1973-2016. We elucidate significant temporal variations in the data and, most notably, demonstrate that continued drought since the early 2000s has impacted upon sediment supply to coastal areas, severely accentuating erosion. For instance, between 2003 and 2016, 70% of transects recorded shoreline retreat with worrying implications for the waterfront archaeology of Siraf. These quantitative results provide invaluable spatial information regarding the causes and impacts of erosion upon Siraf's waterfront heritage, in addition to furnishing a template for the protection of the city's internationally important cultural heritage.

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Section: Zonesupporting

confidence: 89%

Section: Research Aims and Archaeological Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Tracking shoreline erosion of “at risk” coastal archaeology: the example of ancient Siraf (Iran, Persian Gulf)

et al. 2018

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“…Research findings related to the archaeology of the site have been published in a series of interim reports (Whitehouse 1968(Whitehouse , 1969(Whitehouse , 1971(Whitehouse , 1972(Whitehouse , and 1974, in monographs on the major areas of excavation (Whitehouse 1980, Whitehouse 2009) and some of the material evidence (e.g. Lowick 1984, Tampoe 1989, Khakzad et al 2015, Wood and Priestman 2016, as well as in a conference proceedings (Tabadar and Mashayekhi 2005). The glass artefacts and other finds excavated at Sīrāf are currently stored in the British Museum, and a study of this material has reportedly been underway since 2007.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Compositional observations for Islamic Glass from Sīrāf, Iran, in the Corning Museum of Glass collection

Swan

Lankton

Gratuze

et al. 2017

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports

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The medieval port city of Sīrāf (ca. 800-1050 CE) on the north coast of the Persian/Arabian Gulf linked the core lands of the 'Abbāsid caliphate with India, China, Africa, and beyond. 101 glass fragments recovered from the 1966-1973 excavations at Sīrāf and now at the Corning Museum of Glass were analysed using LA-ICPMS in order to explore the glassmaking raw materials and technology of the objects found within the city, as well as to address issues of the production and trade of glass during the Islamic period. The results indicate that the main groups of glass at Sīrāf likely date to the 9 th -early 11 th centuries and can be subdivided by the trace elements zirconium and chromium. Chemical matches with some likely Indian glass, and with glass finds from South and Southeast Asia, underline the pivotal role of the Gulf in the eastward movement of Islamic glass via the Indian Ocean trade network, as well as the influx of Indian glass into the Islamic world. Glass bangles and a small number of vessel fragments likely date to the late 11 th century or later, and their chemical compositions indicate different production origins.

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“…Much of our understanding of Siraf's archaeological record is attributed to the work of Stiffe (1895); Whitehouse (1968)); Whitehouse (1969Whitehouse ( , 1970; Whitehouse (1971) and Whitehouse and Williamson (1973). Since these studies, however, just a handful of investigations and excavations have taken place in Siraf (Khakzad and Trakadas, 2014;Pashazanous et al, 2014;Khakzad et al, 2015). Numerous knowledge gaps remain regarding the rise and fall of Siraf as a key port settlement.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geoarchaeology as a tool to understand ancient navigation in the northern Persian Gulf and the harbour history of Siraf

Pourkerman

Marriner

Morhange

et al. 2020

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports

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Historical texts and archaeological studies attest to the maritime and trade importance of the Persian Gulf since the Sassanid Empires. Nonetheless, there is a paucity of data regarding ancient navigation and the reasons for a shift in m aritim e trade from the western (e.g. Shatt-al-Arab) to eastern (Siraf) Persian Gulf by the Abbasid dynasty. For som e scholars, Siraf was occupied between 360 and 977 CE, after which tim e an earthquake entrained the dem ise of the city. However, it is unclear when Siraf was founded and how natural navigation conditions changed for ocean-going vessels in harbours of the NW Persian Gulf. To address this knowledge gap, we here present new geoarchaeological data from Siraf. Two anthropogenic facies were detected in drilled cores. They suggest that Siraf dates back to 2 BC-317 CE. After a hiatus, a second occupation phase began during the reign of Shapur II. Relative Sea-Level (RSL) fluctuations, climate change and Persian Gulf bathymetry all affected the possible nautical accessibility of this ancient Persian harbour. A fall in RSL, leading to a shortening of navigable water columns and amplified summer-time Shamal wind from 550 CE onwards possibly led to a loss in the im portance of Shatt-al-Arab and other ports in the western Persian Gulf. It appears to have m ade Siraf the best alternative for seafarers. According to the wind regimes, the best time for arrival and departure from Siraf was August and October, respectively. RSL rise and increasing coastal erosion during the winter-tim e Shamal winds led to the degradation of harbour potentialities and was possibly at the origin of econom ic decline and poorly adapted harbour works at Siraf during a 150-year period between 850 and 1000 CE.

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Maritime Aspects of Medieval Siraf, Iran: a pilot project for the investigation of coastal and underwater archaeological remains

Cited by 12 publications

References 27 publications

Tracking shoreline erosion of “at risk” coastal archaeology: the example of ancient Siraf (Iran, Persian Gulf)

Tracking shoreline erosion of “at risk” coastal archaeology: the example of ancient Siraf (Iran, Persian Gulf)

Compositional observations for Islamic Glass from Sīrāf, Iran, in the Corning Museum of Glass collection

Geoarchaeology as a tool to understand ancient navigation in the northern Persian Gulf and the harbour history of Siraf

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