Godin Tepe

Godin Tepe () is an archaeological site in the Luristan region of western Iran, located in the valley of Kangavar in Kermanshah province. It lies on the left bank of the Gamas Āb river. The importance of the site may have been due to its role as a trading outpost in the early Mesopotamian trade networks. The site was occupied from the Late Chalcolithic period through the end of the 2nd millennium BC when it was destroyed in an earthquake and abandoned. The site was again settled in the 1st millennium BC Iron Age with the construction of sizable buildings.Khatchadourian, Lori, "From Captives to Delegates", Imperial Matter: Ancient Persia and the Archaeology of Empires, Berkeley: University of California Press, pp. 79-117, 2016

History

The earliest evidence for occupation at Godin comes from Periods XI through VII, spanning the Early and Middle Chalcolithic. The site was already inhabited as early as c. 5200 BC.

Because Godin has such a deep stratigraphy, it was decided that a related site of Seh Gabi nearby should also be studied. Seh Gabi is located 6 km northeast of Godin Tepe in the Kangavar valley. The deeper levels were easier to reach there.Hamlin, Carol, "Seh Gabi, 1973", Archaeology, vol. 27, no. 4, pp. 274–77, 1974

Originally, the excavations at Godin concentrated on levels II (ended c. 500 BC?) to VI.I (c. 3200 BC–3000 BC), but the transition from the Neolithic to Chalcolithic was studied primarily at Seh Gabi.

The earliest pottery found was of the painted pottery traditions, including J ware (Godin pre-XI) related to Halaf culture pottery.Hilary Gopnik and Mitchell S. Rothman, On the High Road: The History of Godin Tepe, Iran. Mazda Publishers, 2011 The impressed Dalma ware (Dalma Tepe) (Godin XI/X) is very similar to the pottery traditions from the highlands north of Godin, especially from the area of Lake Urmia.Henrickson, Elizabeth, "Ceramic Evidence for Cultural Interaction between the ‘Ubaid Tradition and the Central Zagros Highlands, Western Iran" in Upon This Foundation: the ‘Ubaid Reconsidered Edited by E. Henrickson and I. Thuesen, Copenhagen: Museum Tusculanum Press, pp 368–403, 1989 Nadali Beig (Nad Ali Beig) is another prehistoric site located to the northwest of Godin in this Kangavar area. It also features Dalma pottery.Hanan Bahranipoor, "New Radiocarbon Dates for the Middle Chalcolithic Period of the Central Zagros, Iran", Radiocarbon, vol. 65, issue 3, pp. 591-616, 2023 https://doi.org/10.1017/RDC.2023.41Regional map of archaeological sites. Renette, Steve, "Defining Dalma: an incipient mountain identity?", Paléorient. Revue pluridisciplinaire de préhistoire et de protohistoire de l’Asie du Sud-Ouest et de l’Asie centrale 48-1, pp. 111-130, 2022 https://doi.org/10.4000/paleorient.1699

Level VIII

Level VIII is dated c. 42004000 BC, contemporary with Terminal Ubaid period. During the Late Chalcolithic 1 period (LC 1), some substantial trading networks emerged in the area for trade in metals, and in precious or semi-precious stones,

"During the time of Godin VIII, the LC 1, a real increase in the movement of these goods is evident across the region. For example, lapis lazuli, a semi-precious blue stone known to occur naturally only in the Badakshan area of northeastern Afghanistan, began to appear in LC1 sites in significant amounts."

Level VI/VI.I

During the 1973 campaign, level VI.I (earlier called Level V) was excavated through a deep cut from the citadel. It was occupied during the period 32003000 BC. At the end of level VI.I there was a clear gap in the settlement sequence. There were signs of fire, such as room 22 whose roof was burned. The houses were in general well-preserved and contained many artifacts, but objects made of the precious metal were lacking. Just prior to that, in the final phases of Level VI a large architectural feature dubbed the "Oval Enclosure", encompassing an area of 560 square meters, was uncovered, burnt and destroyed c. 3000 BC. A massive number of sling bullets were found in the destruction debris, associated with a macehead and metal spear. Arsenical bronze objects were also found.Keall, Edward, "Reviewed Work(s): On the High Road. The History of Godin Tepe, Iran, Bibliotheca Iranica: Archaeology, Art and Architecture Series, 1 by Hilary Gopnik, Mitchell S. Rothman, Robert C. Henrickson and Virginia R. Badler", J. Iranian Studies, vol. 46, no. 1, pp. 135–38, 2013Desset, F., "An Architectural Pattern in Late Fourth-millennium BC Western Iran: A New Link Between Susa, Tal-i Malyan, and Godin Tepe", Iran, vol. 52, pp. 1–18, 2014 Eight radiocarbon samples (IntCal04 calibration curve) from Level VI give dates ranging from 3490 BC to 3050 BC. Recently a researcher has re-interpreted the original excavation records in an attempt to reframe the Level VI.I occupation, contending that the "oval enclosure" did not exist and positing a more proto-Elamite influence versus the standard Uruk Expansion view. Elendari, Rasha, "Reevaluating Late 4th Millennium BC Occupation at Godin Tepe: New Insights into the Architecture, Artifact Assemblages, and Intercultural Dynamics in Iran and Mesopotamia", Dissertation, University of Toronto (Canada), 2024

The pottery of level VI.I show influences from the Uruk culture, with parallels at Susa, Uruk (IV) and NippurHilary Gopnik, "A view from the east: The Godin VI Oval and the Uruk Sphere", Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, vol. 7, pp. 835-848, June 2016 Numerous Uruk period beveled rim bowls were found at Godin Tepe, primarily around the administrative building at the top of the mound, but not the "Grobe Blumentopfe" pots that became more common late in the Uruk period. Harvey Weiss and T. Cuyler Young Jr, "Merchants of Susa: Godin V and plateau-lowland relations in the late Fourth Millennium BC", Iran, vol. 13, pp. 1–17, 1975 The existence of Elamite trading posts at the site during this period, established by merchants from Susa has been suggested. Philip D. Curtin, "Cross-Cultural Trade in World History", Studies in Comparative World History, Cambridge University Press, 1984

Thirteen seal impressions and two cylinder seals were found at level VI.I. They were thought to have been produced locally, based on the discovery of an uncarved cylinder. The seal impressions show a parallel with Uruk, Susa and other sites in Khuzestan. They were partly decorated with drill holes. Steatite served as raw material for these, sometimes treated with tempering.

At level VI.I (dated by the excavator to c. 3500-3200 BC) 38 clay tablets of the "numerical tablets" or "impressed tablets" type from the Uruk V period were found of which 27 were preserved in one piece. They contained primarily accounts, like those discovered at contemporary Uruk period sites in western Iran, Syria, and Mesopotamia. Seven of the tablets are sealed. Hallo, William W., "Godin Tepe: The Inscriptions", Yale University, 2011

Early wine-making Traces of wine and beer found in two ceramic jars (60 centimeters high with a capacity of 30 liters and a small hole drilled 10 centimeters above the base) dated to c. 31002900 BC and along with the findings at Hajji Firuz Tepe, provide evidence of the early production of those beverages in the Zagros Mountains. The jars were found in a small room with a necklace made of 200 black and white beads. SImilar jars were found in an adjacent room. The wine residue was identified using Diffuse-reflectance FT-IR.McGovern, Patrick E., "The Archaeological and Chemical Hunt for the Earliest Wine", Ancient Wine: The Search for the Origins of Viniculture, Princeton: Princeton University Press, pp. 40-63, 2019R. Phillips, "A Short History of Wine", Harper Collins, 2000 Badler, Virginia R., "The archaeological evidence for winemaking, distribution and consumption at proto-historic Godin Tepe, Iran", The origins and ancient history of wine. Routledge, pp. 44-56, 2003Badler, V., "Travels with “Jarley”: A 4th Millennium B.C. Wine Jar from Godin Tepe", Archaeological Newsletter, Royal Ontario Museum, 2d ser., 44, pp. 1–4, 1991V. R. Badler, "The Dregs of Civilization: 5000 Year-Old Wine and Beer: Residues from Godin Tepe, Iran", Bulletin of the Canadian Society for Mesopotamian, vol 35, pp. 48–56, 2000 Some Kura–Araxes culture potsherds also seem to appear in association with wine making.

Level IV Level IV (c. 30002650 BC), possibly after a hiatus in occupation, is thought to represent an influx of the northern Yanik-culture (or "Transcaucasian Early Bronze I culture", also known as Kura–Araxes culture), well known from Yanik Tepe, Iran, near Lake Urmia. A few Kura-Araxes potsherds were found in yet deeper layers going back to late fourth millennium BC (Level VI.I).) Unlike pottery from the previous or subsequent levels the pottery in this level were grog tempered.Robert B. Mason and Lisa Cooper, "Grog, "Petrology, and Early Transcaucasians at Godin Tepe", Iran, vol. 37, pp. 25–31, 1999

The only notable architectural remains of this period consist of a number of plastered hearths. The excavator defined three main groups of pottery for Level IV with one, Fine Ware, being rare. Two of these groups belong to Transcaucasian Early Bronze Age Culture. One of these groups bears two types of coarse ware tempered with coarse grit. One of these types is characterized by a grey-black burnished surface mostly with contrasting colors in the interior and exterior of the vessels. This type of coarse ware was used for producing bowls entirely. Conical bowls decorated with incised and excised designs are common; the incised designs are occasionally filled with a whitish paste. The second type of coarse ware is lighter in color, often tan or pinkish buff. The surface of the vessels is either burnished or plain. Besides bowls there are jars with protruding rims and concave or recessed necks.T. Cuyler Young Jr., "The Chronology of the Late Third and Second Millennia in Central Western Iran as Seen from Godin Tepe", American Journal of Archaeology, vol. 73, no. 3, pp. 287–291, 1969

The second group of Transcaucasian Pottery found at Godin Tepe was classified as Common Ware. The fabric of this group was tempered by medium-fine grit and was not well-fired. This group of pottery has the same color range like the coarse ware. The surfaces are highly burnished though the vessels with a light interior and dark exterior are predominant. The forms consist entirely of cups, including the recessed neck types. The decoration is similar in style and technique to the previous coarse wares, but the excised designs are less common.Sagona, A.G., "The Caucasian Region in the Early Bronze Age Part I–III", BAR International Series 214(i), Oxford, 1984.

Level III

Level III (c. 26001500/1400 BC) shows connections with Susa and most of Luristan, and it has been suggested that it belonged to the Elamite confederacy. Robert Carl Henrickson, "Godin Tepe, Godin III, and Central Western Iran: C. 26001500 BC", University of Toronto dissertation, 1984 Robert C. Henrickson, "A Regional Perspective on Godin III Cultural Development in Central Western Iran", Iran, vol. 24, pp. 1-55, 1986 A pottery link to Lagash has been established which may affect the chronology of this layer.Steve Renette, "Painted Pottery from Al-Hiba: Godin Tepe III Chronology and Interactions between Ancient Lagash and Elam", Iran, vol. 53, iss. 1, pp. 49–63, 2015 Near 1400 BC, Godin Tepe was abandoned and was not re-occupied until c. 750 BC. Metal finds include one arrowhead, bracelets, finger and hair rings, and amulets. The pottery assemblage has allowed archaeologists to subdivide this level (Sublevels 1 and 3 are transitory and ephemeral):Henrickson, Robert C., "Šimaški and Central Western Iran: The Archaeological Evidence", Zeitschrift für Assyriologie und Vorderasiatische Archäologie, vol. 74, no. 1, pp. 98-122, 1984

Gödin III : 6 - 2600-2300 BC - Early Dynastic III/IV Gödin III : 5 - 2300-2100 BC - Akkafian