Taherabad Phase (Godin VIII)? The Correction of a Drawback in Eastern Central Zagros Chronology

Abstract

The Chalcolithic sequence of the Central Zagros, which is designed primarily using the potsherds recovered andother associated material culture has long been used by researchers as a framework for the mentioned region. Thechronology is originally suggested based on some incomplete excavations and thus, it is now apparently in needof revision, at least in some parts. Part of the problem goes back to the phase known as Taherabad (Teherabad) orGodin VIII, a phase that suffers the most from the lack of secure chronology. What is discussed here is the natureof Godin VIII phase, so that it will be argued here that based on the archaeological data recorded from the CentralZagros region, the existence of such a phase is doubtful. Instead of Taherabad, it seems that Hoseinabad comesafter the Seh Gabi Phase. It should be noted that Taherabad Phase has not been identified from the excavationsand field surveys. The author suggests here that Godin VII Phase comes right after Seh Gabi Phase in the easternCentral Zagros and the other regions under its influence and the pottery-making tradition of Taherabad Phase (GodinVIII) is probably part of the previous Seh GabiPhase; therefore, it can no longer be considered a separate tradition.Based on what is mentioned, the chronology of the Chalcolithic Period in the eastern Central Zagros is needed tobe reassessed. Such a proposition results from the analyses of the potsherds recovered from the old and new fieldexpeditions.

Keywords

• revision in chronology
• central zagros
• taherabad phase (godin viii)