Qeshm during the Sasanian Period: Results of New Archaeological Fieldwork

For many years, no Sasanian sites were known from the Iranian coast of the Strait of Hormuz. Recently, however, with increased knowledge of Sasanian pottery along the shores the Persian Gulf, a large number of sites have been identified on Qeshm Island. Archaeological survey of Qeshm Island was conducted in February and March 2007 and March 2012 with the aim of identifying ancient sites. During these surveys, 192 archaeological sites from different periods were found. The discovered sites date back to different periods, ranging from prehistory to late Islamic times. This article is a study of Sasanian period settlements. As a result of the survey of Qeshm, we have new insight into the ancient settlements on Qeshm Island. Among the identified sites, 24 sites were attributed to the Sasanian Age (19 occupation sites, 3 cemeteries and 2 forts). Some of the Sasanian sites of Qeshm Island are the first real archaeological sites from this period to be identified on the islands of the Persian Gulf. Due to the lack of information on Sasanian sites on Persian Gulf islands, reconstruction of the social and economic aspects of the population in Sasanian on Qeshm is difficult; based on this two-season survey, however, it seems that human communities on the island were settled in areas related to agricultural production and the exploitation of marine resources. Considering the lack of information on the Sasanian pottery, this article will be useful for the future identification of this period in the Persian Gulf region.