Wind, water and walls : developing luminescence and geoarchaeological methods for ancient landscape features
The Sasanian Empire (224 - 624 AD) covered a vast geographical area, which expanded from Mesopotamia and Southern Iran into Central Asia, the Caucasus and the Arabian Peninsula. Its highly organised socio-political and military system enabled the foundation of new urban centres, intensification of agricultural land and expansion of trade networks into farfetched regions such as India and China. One impressive aspect of the Sasanian Empire was its ability to construct and maintain complex large-scale irrigation systems, which required a significant labour force to construct. Recent investigations of the northern and southern frontiers by the Persia and its Neighbours Project have identified a wealth of evidence for Sasanian landscape investment. Irrigation systems such as surface canals and channels, and underground aqueducts (qanats) were the most prominent features identified in the lowland regions, while in the uplands, agricultural terraces and field systems dominated. The aim of this thesis was to draw upon landscape survey methodologies, combining luminescence and geoarchaeological techniques, to gain a better understanding of the timing of construction, maintenance and abandonment of key landscape features.
Snape, Lisa Marie
Wind, water and walls : developing luminescence and geoarchaeological methods for ancient landscape features. The Sasanian Empire (224 - 624 AD) covered a vast geographical area, which expanded from Mesopotamia and Southern Iran into Central Asia, the Caucasus and the Arabian Peninsula. Its highly organised socio-political and military system enabled the foundation of new urban centres, intensification of agricultural land and expansion of trade networks into farfetched regions such as India and China. One impressive aspect of the Sasanian Empire was its ability to construct and maintain complex large-scale irrigation systems, which required a significant labour force to construct. Recent investigations of the northern and southern frontiers by the Persia and its Neighbours Project have identified a wealth of evidence for Sasanian landscape investment. Irrigation systems such as surface canals and channels, and underground aqueducts (qanats) were the most prominent features identified in the lowland regions, while in the uplands, agricultural terraces and field systems dominated. The aim of this thesis was to draw upon landscape survey methodologies, combining luminescence and geoarchaeological techniques, to gain a better understanding of the timing of construction, maintenance and abandonment of key landscape features.
wind water wall develop luminescence geoarchaeological method ancient_landscape feature sasanian_empire cover vast geographical_area expand mesopotamia southern iran central_asia peninsula highly organise socio_political military system enable foundation_new urban_centre intensification agricultural land expansion trade_network region india_china impressive aspect sasanian_empire ability construct maintain complex large_scale irrigation system_require significant labour_force construct recent investigation northern southern frontier persia neighbours project identify wealth evidence sasanian landscape investment irrigation system surface canal channel underground aqueduct prominent feature_identify lowland region upland agricultural terrace field_system dominate aim draw_upon landscape_survey methodology combine luminescence geoarchaeological technique gain_good timing construction maintenance abandonment key landscape_feature