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

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dc.contributor.authorKarimi, Ebrahim
dc.contributor.supervisorNowell, April
dc.contributor.supervisorLam, Yin
dc.date.accessioned2024-01-04T18:05:04Z
dc.date.copyright2023en_US
dc.date.issued2024-01-04
dc.degree.departmentDepartment of Anthropologyen_US
dc.degree.levelDoctor of Philosophy Ph.D.en_US
dc.description.abstractArchaeological 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, 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, Least-Cost-Path 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.en_US
dc.description.embargo2025-12-21
dc.description.scholarlevelGraduateen_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1828/15783
dc.languageEnglisheng
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.rightsAvailable to the World Wide Weben_US
dc.subjectArchaeologyen_US
dc.subjectRock Arten_US
dc.subjectPetroglyphen_US
dc.subjectIranen_US
dc.subjectStyleen_US
dc.subjectRelative Datingen_US
dc.subjectLandscapeen_US
dc.subjectGISen_US
dc.titleThe Petroglyphs of the Qeydu Valley in Teymare, Central Iran: Style, Relative Dating, and Landscapeen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US

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