هنر اسلامی (Jun 2017)
Review of visual features of animal motif of Shahr-i Shōkhta pottery
Abstract
Sistan is a vast territory in the southeast of Iranian plateau. Hamun Lake and Helmand river are important factors to form ancient civilizations in the region. Archaeological excavations indicate that until the eighteenth century many people lived in Sistan. Shahr-i Shōkhta is an important symbol of urbanization and civilization in pre-history. The excavations of Shahr-i Shōkhta show that this town was One of the most important centers of the prehistoric settlement and also was a social, political, economic and cultural center for entire region in the third millennium BC. By examining the artifacts, we can see the evolution of science and technology in the Iranian plateau. The color of unearthed Potteries from archaeological site include buff, gray, red and multi-colored wares and decorated with animal motives. This study will be addressed the role of communication with adjacent areas in formation of these motives and focus will be on content and symbolic analysis of motives. Motives on pottery unearthed from the Shahr-i Shōkhta is divided into three categories, each with an equal share: geometric 93/7, animal 3/4, plant designs 2%. Animal motives have second ranks among other motifs. The environment and contact with other civilizations effected on them. Animal motives included antelope, deer, zebras, birds (unknown type), fish, snakes and butterflies. The most important features in animal motives are creation the illusion of motion in static motives but some motives are inactive. As well as the possibility of religious belief of people at that time and its impact on select or deselect some animal motives and some other ideas will be examined. This study will be discussed about content of motives, based on statistical population
