Glass seal with Kufic inscriptions discovered in northern Iran

EghtesadOnline: The third season of archeological excavations in the ancient zone of Natel in the city of Nour (in northern Iran) has resulted in the discovery of different architectural remains, including establishment of a castle, outstanding clay works of the third and fourth centuries, and a glass seal with inscriptions in Kufic, it was reported on Friday.

News ID: ۷۷۲۷۸۴

31 December 2016

Head of the excavations team Abdolreza Mohajerinejad was quoted by the Research Institute of Cultural Heritage and Tourism (RICHT) as saying that this year's third season of archeological excavations were conducted in the ancient zone of Natel in the village of Natel Kenar Olia, in the city of Nour, in northern Iran.

The archaeologist said that the plan of the castle walls is round with ditches dug for defensive purposes, adding that the main construction materials used in the castle are pebbled river stones, with medium and large dimensions, and bricks, which are used both in the flooring and for the walls, according to IRNA.

He attributed the castle to the Safavid era with a central building and bathroom and said the central building is rectangular with a wall in the form of porch. The wall is not attached to the main building which raises the possibility that it belonged to the next period.

In continuation, he referred to other parts of the castle such as the water reservoir and a hexagonal shaped pond with brick walls and floor and a water storage built with pebbled river stones.

Mohajerinejad noted that in the third season of excavations, enclosed spaces like rooms were discovered which were used for keeping horses, patrolling and as waiting room, adding that however complete identification of the architecture of the castle demands more explorations in the years to come.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the archeologists said in part of the castle remains of a furnace were discovered which due to the architectural changes in the surrounding area it is expected that it had been constructed in the next period.

Pointing to the intact structure of the furnace, he stressed that with regard to the accumulation of silica in some part of the trench, several pieces of glass and deformed pieces of it, it can be said that the furnace was used for the conversion of silica to glass, which is perhaps due to the change in the application of the castle to an industrial zone.

Referring to the discovery of clay works dating back to the third and fourth centuries, he said clay works with decoration of splashed glaze, paintings under the glaze, sgraffito clay works and Celadon-style pottery which have been made from the kaolin paste have been unearthed.

He also said a glass seal with inscriptions in Kufic as well as decorative beads in yellow and black colors are part of the remains discovered which date back to the fourth century Hegira.

In conclusion, he said apparently it seems that in a massive flood, which left a 3-meter layer of sediments, the area had been abandoned and in the Safavid era and with regard to the position of the location and forests of the area people had gone there to build the castle.