Sasanian Pottery from the Central Zagros: Interactive Local Traditions

Chapter 5 examines the Sasanian pottery wares of the Central Zagros region with a focus on the collections discovered from the two sample areas, Abdanan and Farsan Counties. After giving a state-of-the-art discussion about Sasanian ceramic, the Sasanian collections published from all across the Sasanian realm are considered by way of comparison. The study mainly provides a qualitative typological assessment of the Sasanian ceramic repertoire of the Central Zagros, to reach a preliminary understanding of the formative processes of the pottery types and a relative dating. The classification is taxonomic, following the structured method. Accordingly, the continuity of earlier traditions is noticeable on an inter-regional level, reflected for instance in the forms and decorations of some classes in the sample areas and south-western Iran. On the other hand, another noticeable point is that there are features that occur only in some areas of the Central Zagros and not in the whole region. That said, many forms have undeniable parallels reported from widely separated sites across the Sasanian realm. Therefore, we may define the distinct disposition of the Sasanian pottery of the areas under examination mainly on the basis of decorative and technical attributes.