Document Type : Research Article

Authors

• Saman Babazadeh ¹
• Mostafa Dehpahlavan ²

¹ Ph.D. student of Archaeology, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

² Associate Professor of Archeology, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Recently archaeological excavations in the eastern cemetery of Qara tepe, Sagzābād, have uncovered graves related to the late second millennium and the first half of the first millennium B.C. (Iron ages 2 and 3). Thankfully, with the excavation of this cemetery, we have obtained some findings based on which we can reconstruct part of the social aspects of the life of the societies of the first millennium BC in the region. Graves are one of the most important archaeological contexts for discovering prestige goods. There are many questions and ambiguities in the field of prestige goods, changes in their type and value over time, and how they were distributed in the region in the Iron Ages 2 and 3. Given the theoretical discussions raised about prestige and prestige goods and the results of the excavations in this cemetery, finds such as sea shells, decorative beads made of carnelian and antimony, cylindrical seals of the neo-Assyrian style, cylindrical seals with geometric designs, and iron ornaments and tools can be considered as prestige goods. The evidence of this cemetery indicates the elites' efforts in the first millennium B.C. to maintain their social prestige by achieving new categories of prestige goods. As a sign of connection and interaction with distant lands, these goods could play an influential role in maintaining and developing elites' prestige and social status. Moreover, the finds of this cemetery indicate the efforts of some lower ranks of the society to increase their social prestige and use its advantages.

Keywords

• Iron Age
• First millennium B.C
• Qara Tepe
• Sagzābād
• Prestige good

Main Subjects

• Social history

Extended Abstract

  Cultural Behavior Change to gain social prestige in the Iron Ages 2 and 3

(Evidence of prestige goods in the eastern cemetery of Qara Tepe, Sagzabad)

Qara Tepe Sagzābād is one of the prominent sites of the Iron Age in Qazvin plain. The first excavations in this area were done in 1968 by Amir Farāhāni. However, purposeful and almost uninterrupted excavations in this area started in 1970 with the selection of Qara Tepe Sagzābād as one of the three educational excavations areas of the Department of Archeology of Tehran University and continued until 2021 with several years' breaks. Unfortunately, due to the large volume of illegal excavations and the activities of farmers, damages were caused to the layers of the Iron Age, especially the layers belonging to the first millennium BC. Because of this, there is insufficient information about the different aspects of living in the plane of Qazvin in this period. In the excavations of 2016, a cemetery belonging to the end of the 2^nd millennium and the beginning of the 1^st millennium BC (Iron ages 2 and 3) was identified in the eastern side of Qara Tepe. Through the archeological excavations in this cemetery, 69 graves and other finds were excavated in the cemetery. The finds from this cemetery provided us with valuable information based on which we can reconstruct some life aspects of the societies of the 1^st millennium BC living in the Qazvin plain.

Cemeteries are one of the most important contexts to study different socio-economic aspects of communities and provide valuable information for us. The present study focused on social prestige. The questions raised in this regard are what finds discovered from this cemetery can be considered prestige goods? What changes have been made to the types and value of prestige goods over time? And what is the access level of different classes of society to such goods?

 A range of theories has been formed in the field of the emergence, distribution, and functions of prestige goods after the emergence of new archaeology and archeologists' focus on the evolutionary issues in societies and their socio-economic structures. The present study sought to find answers to these questions based on the available theoretical models and studying and classifying the finds discovered from the newly found cemetery in Qara Tepe Sagzābād.

In general, prestige goods in archeology refer to goods that they or their raw materials have been imported from a long distance or have limited distribution and were made with a time-consuming production process or with the advanced technology of their time. Prestige goods can be personal tools (ornaments, weapons) or have specific socio-ritual functions. Prestige goods can also contain important information about political relations at local and regional levels.  

Given the theoretical discussions raised about prestige and prestige goods and the results of the excavations in this cemetery, finds such as sea shells, decorative beads made of carnelian and antimony, cylindrical seals of the neo-Assyrian style, cylindrical seals with geometric designs, and iron ornaments and tools can be considered as prestige goods. The level of prestige each of these goods brought for their owners was different. The evidence and finds discovered from this cemetery indicates that due to the increase in the production of bronze objects, the value of bronze objects in the 1^st millennium BC decreased. Also, it seems that iron metal lost its prestige value in the 1^st millennium BC. At the same time, we can observe the emergence of a new category of prestige goods in the area, which can be the result of the elites' effort to maintain their social status by creating a new category of prestige goods. Most of these goods were imported items (e.g., sea shells, carnelian), and some indicate the connection with the center of power (e.g., cylindrical seals of Assyrian style) and could play an effective role as a sign of the connection with the origin of these goods in preserving and developing the elites' social status and prestige. Moreover, the finds of this cemetery indicate the efforts of some lower ranks of the society to increase their social prestige and use its advantages by putting such valuable goods in their relatives' graves. Such efforts of the lower ranks to gain social prestige can represent their effort to show their connection with upper ranks and could be a guarantee for success in marriage, loan processes, collaborative works, or achieving other privileges in society. Due to the high circulation of prestige goods in societies, these goods might have been distributed by the elites of higher ranks to increase authority, unity, economic incentives, or create new social ranks among the lower ranks of society.