Heritage of Southwest Asia

Heritage of Southwest Asia

A Study of the Early Bronze Age Architecture at Tepe Zarnaq,, a Kura-Araxes Settlement in Northwest Iran

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Hossein Naseri Someeh 1
Alireza Hejebri Nobari 2
1 PhD in Archaeology, Lecturer, Tabriz Islamic Art University, Iran.
2 Professor, Department of Archaeology, University of Tarbiat Modares, Tehran, Iran.
10.22034/hsaj.2026.570734.1043
Abstract
Architecture is one of the most important and prominent cultural indicators of the Early Bronze Age or the Kura-Araxes Culture in Northwest Iran. The architecture of the Kura-Araxes culture is distinguished by the emergence of a circular plan, a departure from the rectangular plans of the preceding period. This architectural transformation is known as a fundamental change in the Early Bronze Age of the region. In 2012 excavations at Tepe Zarnaq in Heris County, evidence of several meters of cultural accumulation from the Kura-Araxes period, indicating a major and long-term settlement in the area. According to the architectural evidence obtained from four workshops in this excavation, the phasing, precedence and delay, relative chronology, and evolution of these buildings can be reconstructed. In the first period, a short-lived phase, no architectural evidence was found except for a few pits and primitive column bases. Based on pottery finds, this period of settlement appears to have been part of the Kura-Araxes II culture, associated with a nomadic society characterized by temporary settlements. The second architectural period has two phases with standardized adobe buildings and a circular plan. This period indicates the establishment of permanent settlements and the implementation of the common adobe architectural style of the Kura-Araxes II culture. The third period consists of 4 phases. In this period, the architecture with a circular plan evolves into a rectangular plan, which is a stylistic change in the Kura-Araxes III culture. This architectural evolution can be seen throughout the Kura-Araxes cultural area. In addition to adobe, during this period, pise and smooth stones were used in the foundations of buildings and walls.

Graphical Abstract

A Study of the Early Bronze Age Architecture at Tepe Zarnaq,, a Kura-Araxes Settlement in Northwest Iran

Highlights

·      Excavations at Tepe Zarnaq have revealed a Late Early Bronze Age architectural sequence spanning the late Kura-Araxes II through Kura-Araxes III phases.

·      The earliest phase is characterized by limited evidence of temporary or mobile occupation, including postholes and simple stone post bases.

·      The second phase comprises standardized circular mudbrick structures, represented by at least two successive architectural sub-phases and indicating a transition toward more permanent settlement.

·      A major destruction by fire brought the circular architectural tradition to an end, after which rectilinear architecture was introduced following a short occupational hiatus.

·      The third phase comprises four architectural sub-phases of rectangular/rectilinear buildings, initially employing stone-and-mudbrick construction and subsequently mudbrick construction.

·      The complete absence of incised-and-white-filled pottery, together with the architectural and ceramic evidence, places the beginning of occupation at Tepe Zarnaq in the late Kura-Araxes II phase.

·      The persistence of geometric motifs from pottery to plastered and decorated architectural surfaces indicates the continuity and adaptation of symbolic traditions during the cultural transformation of the Kura-Araxes tradition.

Keywords
Kura-Araxes
Tepe Zarnaq
Architecture
Phasing
Subjects
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Heritage of Southwest Asia

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