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Number Seven Thousand Eight Hundred and Twenty Four - 06 May 2025
Iran Daily - Number Seven Thousand Eight Hundred and Twenty Four - 06 May 2025 - Page 7

Sassanid era inscription suggests active ancient trade, industry

Thanks to the efforts of Isfahan archaeologists, a Sassanid ceramic inscription fragment has been discovered in Lenjan, Isfahan Province. Its content indicates the existence of an ancient commercial and industrial settlement along the Zayandeh Rud River.
In early May 2025, this ceramic inscription piece was recognized as one of the year's most significant archaeological findings and has the potential to open a new chapter in regional historical research.
Aqil Aqili, head of the Archaeology Committee of the Lenjan Heritage Preservers Association, told ISNA that this accidental discovery resulted from the ongoing, dedicated efforts of the association's members, ISNA wrote.
Following an initial site survey by Hamid Salimian, the association's CEO, and subsequent focused follow-up efforts, a brainstorming session was held to prepare for the official registration and protection of the site in coordination with the Isfahan Province Cultural Heritage Organization. The site requires further research and studies; future investigations could undoubtedly revolutionize the understanding of the region’s history.
He added, "During a scientific visit to the site, archaeological evidence was observed, including architectural remains, scattered pottery shards, metal slags, a stone tool, and most notably, a piece of ceramic inscription (ostracon) in Pahlavi Sassanid script."
He also mentioned that, in the initial examination and reading of this ceramic inscription, he realized that the inscription indicates the number “six” in Middle Persian (Pahlavi).
Aqili emphasized that this ceramic inscription holds great value from both linguistic and archaeological perspectives. He explained: "It is written in 'Broken Pahlavi' script, a form that was common at the end of the Sassanid period and is now very difficult to decipher."
He further states that, like other known examples from Varamin, Chaleh Tarkhan in Rey, Abu Naser Palace in Shiraz, and Hegmataneh in Hamadan, this piece was not part of an intact vessel but served as a medium for recording information such as receipts, transfers, and exchanges of goods.
Based on the research of Rasoul Bashash, a faculty member at the Institute for Linguistic Studies, conclusions can be drawn from Parthian-era Ostraca in Nisa (1st century BCE) to inscribed pottery from the late Sassanid and early Islamic periods (7th and 8th centuries CE). These include examples such as shards from around Varamin, Chaleh Tarkhan in Rey, Abu Naser Palace in Shiraz, and Hegmataneh.
He added, "In Nisa, every inscribed ceramic was part of an intact vessel, with details such as the names of gardens, their locations, the dates of fruit extract deliveries (like vinegar), the quantities, and the names of the deliverers recorded on it. In contrast, inscribed shards around Varamin, Chaleh Tarkhan, and similar sites were broken pieces used as receipts or notes, with inscriptions unrelated to the main vessel."
He continued, "The main content of ceramics from Nisa involved the transfer of extracts like vinegar, while inscribed shards around Varamin, Chaleh Tarkhan, and Hegmataneh recorded various agricultural products such as wheat, barley, and other goods. These inscriptions functions as receipts or transfer notes issued to individuals. The discarded lines seen on many shards around Varamin are likely signs of corrections or settlements of the recorded items."
He concluded that from the content of this ceramic inscription — likely related to counting or exchanges — it can be inferred that the site was an important industrial and commercial settlement at the end of the Sassanid period, possibly extending into the early Islamic centuries. The presence of metal tools and slag remnants further supports the activity of metal smelting and processing at this location.
He also pointed out that this recent discovery has once again drawn attention to Lenjan, noting: "Lenjan’s strategic position, access to the Zayandeh Rud River, and proximity to ancient routes have historically given it an important role." He expressed hope that with the formal registration of this site, scholarly studies and excavations would commence, shedding new light on the economic, cultural, and environmental history of this part of Isfahan Province.

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