The Preliminary Results of Archaeological Research Conducted in 2023 at the Sharifan City Site

Abstract

During the 2023 field research season, the East Zangezur archaeological expedition conducted excavations at the Sharifan settlement (Shahri Sharifan), located on the banks of the Hakari River near the village of Sharifan in the Zangilan region. As a result of the research, a 1.8–2.2 m-thick cultural layer was studied, and observations in the ravine section indicated that the deposit was more than 2.5 m thick. Based on the stratigraphic analysis, 6 construction phases and 12 strata were identified. During the excavations, construction remains made of river stone, pits, a protective wall built along the ravine to protect against floods, production-related waste, and artefacts of various purposes were discovered. The coal and ash layers observed in the cultural layer, along with the abundance of rust samples, constitute material evidence of the development of blacksmithing in the settlement. The column base and architectural element fragment found in the monument allow us to assume the existence of monumental buildings. Based on stratigraphic observations and analysis of artefacts, it was determined that the Sharifan city site dates back to the 13^th–17^th centuries. According to preliminary results, the settlement likely formed against the backdrop of intensive trade linked to the Khudafarin bridges on the Araz River in the late 13^th–early 14^th centuries. The decline of the settlement and the population’s departure from the area are associated with the weakening of international trade relations in the 17^th century and the “Great Migration” policy implemented by Shah Abbas I (1604–1605 CE).