Tureng Tepe (Persian: تورنگ تپه, "Hill of the Pheasants";[1] alternatively spelled in English as Turang Tappe/Tape/Tappa/Tappeh) is a Neolithic and Chalcolithic archaeological site in northeastern Iran, in the Gorgan plain, approximately 17 km northeast of the town of Gorgan. Nearby is a village of Turang Tappeh.
Female Figurine Iran Tureng Tepe IIIB Period 3rd Millennium BCE (64322880)
Tureng Tepe consists of a group of mounds interspersed with ponds and water courses. The whole archaeological pattern is about 900 meters in diameter. Most of the mounds rise between eleven and fifteen meters above the level of the surrounding plan, but the steep central mound, marked A on the Wulsin's plan, is over 30 meters high and dominates the entire site. A small modern village lies at the foot of the large mound.[2]
In 1841, some material (including gold vessels) from the site was sent to the Shah (Mohammad Shah Qajar), and examined by Clement Augustus (C.A.) de Bode, piquing initial modern interest in the site.[1] The first modern excavations were done by Frederick Wulsin in 1931, sponsored by the Atkins Museum of Fine Arts. Grey burnished ware pottery, red ware, red ware with black painted decoration, coarse ware, and one example of cream colored ware with black painted decoration were found and studied. Excavation occurred on the central mound (Mound A) and the Western mound (Mound C). One grave was found on Mound A and the surface of Mound C featured a large Bronze Age cemetery.[2][3] In 1959, Jean Deshayes (1924–1979)[4] rediscovered the site, and regular excavations began soon after until 1979.[5][6][7][8]
Descriptionedit
View of the village of Tureng Tepe from its archaeological hill.
The oldest remains on the site date to the Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods. The Bronze Age settlement portion of the site dates from approximately 3100-2900 BC through 1900 BC.[3]
Figurinesedit
The figurines of Tureng Tepe have long been recognized as quite remarkable. They include both terracotta and stone figurines.[9]
As far as the stone figurines, there are many similarities between Tureng and the nearby sites of Shah Tepe, Tepe Hissār, and Gohar Tappeh. Yet the terracotta figurines of Tureng Tepe are unparalleled at any other nearby site. These baked clay figurines find their parallels with sites further away, in Turkmenistan and the Indus valley. Some parallels as far as Mesopotamia have been suggested.[9]
Chronologyedit
Neolithic and Chalcolithicedit
Tureng IA (Neolithic period - these layers are assumed to lie below the water table. From this horizon occur Djeitun-like sherds, incorporated in bricks made in later periods)
Tureng IB (Late Neolithic period - again presumably below the water table)
Tureng IIA (Early Chalcolithic period)
Bronze Ageedit
Painted pottery, Iranian Bronze Age of Tureng tepe. 2nd millennium BC at the Louvre Museum, Paris
Tureng IIB (ca. 3100–2600 BC)
Tureng III A / B (ca. 2600–2100 BC). To this period belongs an enormous, mud-bricks high terrace, constructed in the center of the settlement and representing perhaps the earliest example of monumental architecture in this region.[10]
Tureng III C (about 2100 -? BC)
Iron Ageedit
Tureng IV A (Iron Age, possibly 7th century BC)
Tureng IV B Iron Age, possibly 6th century BC)
Tureng VA (2nd century BC)
Historical timeedit
Tureng VB (1st century BC)
Tureng VC / D (1st–2nd century AD)
Tureng VI A Sasanian empire(3rd–5th century AD)
Tureng VI B end of the Sasanian empire (possibly 6th - 7th centuries)
Tureng VII A / B Islamic occupation at the top of Mound A(10th–11th century AD)
Tureng VIII some Islamic remains located in the south-west part of the site (possibly 13th century AD)
During the Bronze Age, Tureng Tepe was likely a thriving settlement.
^ abRostovtzeff, M., "The Sumerian Treasure of Astrabad", The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 4–27, Jan 1920
^ abWulsin, F.R., "Excavation at Tureng Tepe, near Asterabad", Bulletin of the American Institute for Persian Art and Archaeology, vol. 2, no. 1 (3), pp. 2-12, 1932
^ abMoreau, Kathy. Tureng Tepe, Iran expedition records (finding aid) (University of Pennsylvania, Penn Museum Archives, 2010), Retrieved July 19, 2010
^Leriche, Pierre. Fouilles de Tureng Tepe I (Review), Syria, 1994, vol. 71, n° 1, pp. 239–242.
^Deshayes, Jean, "Rapport Préliminaire Sur Les Deux Premières Campagnes de Fouille a Tureng Tépé", Syria, vol. 40, no. 1/2, pp. 85–99, 1963
^Deshayes, Jean, "Rapport Préliminaire Sur La Neuvième Campagne de Fouille à Tureng Tépé (1971)", Iran, vol. 11, pp. 141–52, 1973
^Deshayes, Jean, "La XI e Campagne de fouille a Tureng Tepe (17 juillet-7 septembre 1975)", Paléorient, vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 491–94, 1974
^ abKyle Olson (2012), The Figurines of Tureng Tepe: Ceramic Bodies and Social Life at a Bronze Age site in northeastern Iran. academia.edu
^Deshayes, Jean (1977). "A propos des terrasses hautes de la fin du IIIe millénaire en Iran et en Asie centrale" IN Le Plateau iranien et l'Asie Centrale des origines à la Conquête islamique. Paris: Editions du CNRS. pp. 95–111.
Further readingedit
Rémy Boucharlat and Olivier Lecomte, "Fouilles de Tureng Tepe", Ed. Recherche sur les civilisations, 1987 (ISBN2-86538-182-X)
Deshayes, J., "Tureng Tepe and the Plain of Gorgan in the Bronze Age", Archaeologia Viva, vol. 1, Paris, pp. 35‐40, 1968
Deshayes, J., "Céramiques Peintes de Tureng Tépé", Iran, vol. 5, pp. 123–31, 1967
Deshayes, Jean, "New Evidence for the Indo-Europeans from Tureng Tepe, Iran", Archaeology, vol. 22, no. 1, pp. 10–17, 1969
Olson, Kery G.; Thornton, Christopher P. (2021). "Tureng Tepe, a Bronze Age Centre in Northeastern Iran Revisited". Iran: Journal of the British Institute of Persian Studies. 59 (1): 4–35. doi:10.1080/05786967.2019.1679034.
Olson, Kyle G., "Figurines and Identity in Bronze Age Iran: An analysis of adornment, context, and use at Tureng Tepe", Archäologische Mitteilungen aus Iran und Turan, vol. 2017, no. 49, pp. 123-147, 2020
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tureng Tepe.
Turang Tepe, View of the Mound, From an Altitude of 1,740 M on May 12, 1937 - Oriental Institute
Report on similar finds at the nearby Bazgir Tepe - Tehran Times 2011
April 10, 2024
tureng, tepe, persian, تورنگ, تپه, hill, pheasants, alternatively, spelled, english, turang, tappe, tape, tappa, tappeh, neolithic, chalcolithic, archaeological, site, northeastern, iran, gorgan, plain, approximately, northeast, town, gorgan, nearby, village, . Tureng Tepe Persian تورنگ تپه Hill of the Pheasants 1 alternatively spelled in English as Turang Tappe Tape Tappa Tappeh is a Neolithic and Chalcolithic archaeological site in northeastern Iran in the Gorgan plain approximately 17 km northeast of the town of Gorgan Nearby is a village of Turang Tappeh Tureng Tepe 1 Location in IranCoordinates36 56 17 95 N 54 35 11 47 E 36 9383194 N 54 5865194 E 36 9383194 54 5865194HistoryPeriodsChalcolithic and Bronze AgeSite notesExcavation dates1931 1963 1979ArchaeologistsFrederick Wulsin Jean Deshayes Contents 1 Archaeology 2 Description 3 Figurines 4 Chronology 4 1 Neolithic and Chalcolithic 4 2 Bronze Age 4 3 Iron Age 4 4 Historical time 5 See also 6 References 7 Further reading 8 External linksArchaeology edit nbsp Female Figurine Iran Tureng Tepe IIIB Period 3rd Millennium BCE 64322880 Tureng Tepe consists of a group of mounds interspersed with ponds and water courses The whole archaeological pattern is about 900 meters in diameter Most of the mounds rise between eleven and fifteen meters above the level of the surrounding plan but the steep central mound marked A on the Wulsin s plan is over 30 meters high and dominates the entire site A small modern village lies at the foot of the large mound 2 In 1841 some material including gold vessels from the site was sent to the Shah Mohammad Shah Qajar and examined by Clement Augustus C A de Bode piquing initial modern interest in the site 1 The first modern excavations were done by Frederick Wulsin in 1931 sponsored by the Atkins Museum of Fine Arts Grey burnished ware pottery red ware red ware with black painted decoration coarse ware and one example of cream colored ware with black painted decoration were found and studied Excavation occurred on the central mound Mound A and the Western mound Mound C One grave was found on Mound A and the surface of Mound C featured a large Bronze Age cemetery 2 3 In 1959 Jean Deshayes 1924 1979 4 rediscovered the site and regular excavations began soon after until 1979 5 6 7 8 Description edit nbsp View of the village of Tureng Tepe from its archaeological hill The oldest remains on the site date to the Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods The Bronze Age settlement portion of the site dates from approximately 3100 2900 BC through 1900 BC 3 Figurines editThe figurines of Tureng Tepe have long been recognized as quite remarkable They include both terracotta and stone figurines 9 As far as the stone figurines there are many similarities between Tureng and the nearby sites of Shah Tepe Tepe Hissar and Gohar Tappeh Yet the terracotta figurines of Tureng Tepe are unparalleled at any other nearby site These baked clay figurines find their parallels with sites further away in Turkmenistan and the Indus valley Some parallels as far as Mesopotamia have been suggested 9 Chronology editNeolithic and Chalcolithic edit Tureng IA Neolithic period these layers are assumed to lie below the water table From this horizon occur Djeitun like sherds incorporated in bricks made in later periods Tureng IB Late Neolithic period again presumably below the water table Tureng IIA Early Chalcolithic period Bronze Age edit nbsp Painted pottery Iranian Bronze Age of Tureng tepe 2nd millennium BC at the Louvre Museum ParisTureng IIB ca 3100 2600 BC Tureng III A B ca 2600 2100 BC To this period belongs an enormous mud bricks high terrace constructed in the center of the settlement and representing perhaps the earliest example of monumental architecture in this region 10 Tureng III C about 2100 BC Iron Age edit Tureng IV A Iron Age possibly 7th century BC Tureng IV B Iron Age possibly 6th century BC Tureng VA 2nd century BC Historical time edit Tureng VB 1st century BC Tureng VC D 1st 2nd century AD Tureng VI A Sasanian empire 3rd 5th century AD Tureng VI B end of the Sasanian empire possibly 6th 7th centuries Tureng VII A B Islamic occupation at the top of Mound A 10th 11th century AD Tureng VIII some Islamic remains located in the south west part of the site possibly 13th century AD During the Bronze Age Tureng Tepe was likely a thriving settlement See also editYarim Tepe Iran Cities of the Ancient Near EastReferences edit a b Rostovtzeff M The Sumerian Treasure of Astrabad The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology vol 6 no 1 pp 4 27 Jan 1920 a b Wulsin F R Excavation at Tureng Tepe near Asterabad Bulletin of the American Institute for Persian Art and Archaeology vol 2 no 1 3 pp 2 12 1932 a b Moreau Kathy Tureng Tepe Iran expedition records finding aid University of Pennsylvania Penn Museum Archives 2010 Retrieved July 19 2010 Notices Necrologiques Jean Deshayes 1924 1979 Paleorient vol 5 Issue 5 1979 Leriche Pierre Fouilles de Tureng Tepe I Review Syria 1994 vol 71 n 1 pp 239 242 Deshayes Jean Rapport Preliminaire Sur Les Deux Premieres Campagnes de Fouille a Tureng Tepe Syria vol 40 no 1 2 pp 85 99 1963 Deshayes Jean Rapport Preliminaire Sur La Neuvieme Campagne de Fouille a Tureng Tepe 1971 Iran vol 11 pp 141 52 1973 Deshayes Jean La XI e Campagne de fouille a Tureng Tepe 17 juillet 7 septembre 1975 Paleorient vol 2 no 2 pp 491 94 1974 a b Kyle Olson 2012 The Figurines of Tureng Tepe Ceramic Bodies and Social Life at a Bronze Age site in northeastern Iran academia edu Deshayes Jean 1977 A propos des terrasses hautes de la fin du IIIe millenaire en Iran et en Asie centrale IN Le Plateau iranien et l Asie Centrale des origines a la Conquete islamique Paris Editions du CNRS pp 95 111 Further reading editRemy Boucharlat and Olivier Lecomte Fouilles de Tureng Tepe Ed Recherche sur les civilisations 1987 ISBN 2 86538 182 X Deshayes J Tureng Tepe and the Plain of Gorgan in the Bronze Age Archaeologia Viva vol 1 Paris pp 35 40 1968 Deshayes J Ceramiques Peintes de Tureng Tepe Iran vol 5 pp 123 31 1967 Deshayes Jean New Evidence for the Indo Europeans from Tureng Tepe Iran Archaeology vol 22 no 1 pp 10 17 1969 Olson Kery G Thornton Christopher P 2021 Tureng Tepe a Bronze Age Centre in Northeastern Iran Revisited Iran Journal of the British Institute of Persian Studies 59 1 4 35 doi 10 1080 05786967 2019 1679034 Olson Kyle G Figurines and Identity in Bronze Age Iran An analysis of adornment context and use at Tureng Tepe Archaologische Mitteilungen aus Iran und Turan vol 2017 no 49 pp 123 147 2020External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tureng Tepe Turang Tepe View of the Mound From an Altitude of 1 740 M on May 12 1937 Oriental Institute Report on similar finds at the nearby Bazgir Tepe Tehran Times 2011 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tureng Tepe amp oldid 1203663796, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
