Tracing the pyro-technological evidence during the 3rd millennium bc in “Shahdad” through archaeometallurgical remains

Abstract

Shahdad is located on the western side of the great “Lut” desert in the south-central Iranian Plateau. Shahdad has been a major focus of archaeological research in the region due to extensive metallurgical activities, which were documented at the site and supposedly have the most abundant remains of copper metallurgy in southeastern Iran during the Bronze Age (3rd millennium BC). Due to the archaeological studies of the vast peripheral area, the settlement was a permanently occupied city during the 3rd millennium BC. New excavations at Shahdad offer a unique opportunity to reconsider the pyro-technological remains which were probably related to metallurgical practices during this era. This research will focus on the characterization of typical Shahdad pottery styles and remains of metallurgical slags scattered across the area in association with amounts of other metallurgical remains such as copper ores, moulds, crucibles, furnaces and metallic residues. The typical characteristic style of pottery are their dense structure heavy with rough fabrication. The objects have been studied through optical microscopy, ICP-MS, and XRF to determine their chemistry, micro-chemistry, and mineralogy. The evident complexity of pottery production at Shahdad may eventually allow a better understanding of the timing of innovations and/or the adaptation of technological features observed in the overburden of Shahdad that as yet have not been scientifically documented. The scientific examination of slags and pottery sherds presented here recognizes new information regarding the microchemistry and production techniques of pottery and their possible potential application for metallurgical purposes.