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Faculty of Graduate Studies

Ebrahim Karimi

  • MA (Azad University, 2009)

  • BA (Azad University, 2006)

Notice of the Final Oral Examination for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy

Topic

The Petroglyphs of the Qeydu Valley in Central Iran: Style, Relative Dating, and Landscape

Anthropology

Date & location

  • Thursday, December 21, 2023

  • 9:00 A.M.

  • Clearihue Building

  • Virtual

Reviewers

Supervisory Committee

  • Dr. April Nowell, Department of Anthropology, University of Victoria (Co-Supervisor) 

  • Dr. Yin-Man Lam, Department of Anthropology, UVic (Co-Supervisor)

  • Dr. Marcus Milwright, Department of Art History and Visual Studies, UVic (Outside Member) 

External Examiner

  • Dr. Dario Sigari, CNR ISPC Area Della Ricerca Di Roma 1, CNRS UMR 5608 Traces 

Chair of Oral Examination

  • Dr. Tom Ruth, Department of Physics and Astronomy, UVic

     

Abstract

Archaeological surveys have resulted in the identification of a large number of rock art sites in Iran in recent years. However, our understanding of the main aspects of rock art in central Iran has remained limited. Despite the large number of petroglyphs identified in this area, the possible age of the petroglyphs, their stylistic characteristics, regional distribution, and associated landscape have not been adequately explored. To tackle these gaps in the rock art of the central plateau of Iran, this research investigates relative dating, stylistic features, and the distribution of the sites across the Qeydu Valley.

 

Situated on the borders of Isfahan and Markazi provinces in central Iran, Qeydu Valley is part of a larger region called Teymare, where large clusters of petroglyphs have been identified in recent years. The fieldwork conducted to collect data for this research resulted in the identification of new rock art sites in the Qeydu Valley. The relative age of the petroglyphs was investigated using relative dating methods, including iconography, stylistic comparisons, superimposition, patination, and inscriptions. The stylistic characteristics of the petroglyphs were analyzed to look for possible stylistic sequences and regional styles of rock art in the Qeydu Valley. GIS analysis, including predictive modeling, density, and visibility/viewshed analyses, was applied to explore the landscape of the petroglyphs and to test the possible correlation between the placement of the petroglyphs and environmental factors.

The stylistic analysis proposed that most petroglyphs do not show adequate visual similarities together; therefore, they do not qualify to be classified as a regional style. Relative dating analysis suggested that some petroglyphs were made during the Islamic period and cannot be older than the historical times; they are most likely Sassanid or Parthian at most. GIS analysis proposed that large concentrations of the petroglyphs were situated at an accessible distance from water sources and potential pathways. The result of the cost distance and viewshed analysis indicated that the placement of the petroglyphs was possibly intended only for a specific restricted audience and not for the public, as they were neither easily accessible nor adequately visible in the landscape.

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