https://eijh.modares.ac.ir/ The International Journal of Humanities en daily 1 Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0330 Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0330 https://eijh.modares.ac.ir/article_28435.html The Mersin Chal Cemetery is considered one of the extensive burial sites in Iran. It’s strategically located on the corridor connecting the desert regions and the Iranian Central Plateau on one side with the northern and northeastern parts of Iran. The cemetery is situated along the southern edge of the eastern Alborz mountains. During the third season of archaeological excavations at this cemetery in 2021, 49 graves were identified and excavated. The data obtained from this season provide a valuable collection for studying burial practices and examining regional cultural dynamics from the late Iron Age III to the early Parthian period.  The aim of this research is to examine the grave goods within the context of cultural interactions, particularly through typological and comparative analyses with contemporary sites in northern and northeastern Iran. The research methodology follows a descriptive-analytical approach, utilizing data collected from both fieldwork and documentary/library research. The findings reveal that the graves at Mersin Chal exhibit a relatively consistent pattern in terms of orientation and general structure, reflecting a stable burial tradition. However, variations in the quantity and quality of grave goods suggest social differentiation within the community. Furthermore, the pottery assemblages also show notable typological similarities to sites such as Shahr-i Qumis, Tepe Kesht, Tepe Dibaj, Velem Cemetery, Vestemin Cemetery, and Shahneh Poshteh, indicating cultural connections and regional interaction.  Moreover, the discovery of a bronze seal ring, featuring an image of Heracles and a Greek inscription, holds particular historical and cultural significance. This find may point to contact with Hellenistic cultural spheres during the early Parthian period. Overall, the available evidence suggests that Mersin Chal, during the second half of the first millennium BC, was integrated into broader networks of regional exchange and cultural interaction, especially with northern and northeastern Iran. https://eijh.modares.ac.ir/article_28532.html Nishapur slip-painted pottery (9th-10th centuries CE) features human figures traditionally classified by secondary signifiers like clothing, often overlooking anatomical indicators. Adopting a Foucauldian genealogical approach, this research addresses the methodological gap in gender identification through meticulous observation of scarce signs. By identifying visual indicators of femininity-specifically linear depictions and contours in the upper torso- this study proposes novel criteria for gender classification. To substantiate this, the inscription of femininity is traced historically: from prehistoric clay figurines to ancient Iranian traditions, the Sasanian period, early Islamic wares, and later Iranian art. This genealogical tracing reveals the contingent and discontinuous recurrence of specific linear strategies for inscribing femininity in the upper torso, a visual grammar which emerged heterogeneously rather than as a single tradition. Employing a comparative-analytical method with library and digital sources, the study examines approximately 50 figures. Findings indicate that femininity is conveyed primarily through specific linear representations and contours in the upper torso, rather than relying solely on garments. Among the examined figures, only two key specimens exhibit these recurrent linear signifiers (concentric circles and rounded contours). Consequently, the majority of other motifs, lacking these specific anatomical signifiers, are reinterpreted here as likely representing young male courtiers or adorned “ghulāms” within the Samanid visual regime. These results challenge earlier costume-based classifications and frame femininity in Iranian visual culture as a historically contingent yet recurrent discourse shaped by shifting regimes of power https://eijh.modares.ac.ir/article_28533.html The Hirmand River, as the largest river in the eastern Iranian Plateau, has played a significant role in the formation and expansion of civilizations and cultures in Greater Sistan in eastern ancient Iran. In the last century, limited surveys have been conducted in the eastern part of the Hirmand River basin (the ancient provinces of Helmand and Nimruz, Afghanistan), each covering a portion of this region and introducing sites from various historical periods. Unfortunately, due to the prevailing insecurity in Afghanistan, studies in the eastern Sistan region have remained incomplete, leaving many ambiguities regarding various historical periods, including the Achaemenid era in this area. Therefore, in this research, which was conducted with the aim of investigating the function of Achaemenid sites around the Hirmand River in eastern ancient Sistan, we first introduce and study the Achaemenid ancient sites along the banks of the Hirmand River based on archaeological reports and remote sensing via satellite imagery. Subsequently, by analyzing the obtained data, the Achaemenid sites along the banks of the Hirmand River are examined in terms of their function. The results indicate that across the five archaeological survey projects conducted in the eastern part of the Hirmand River basin, 19 sites contain evidence from the Achaemenid period. Based on the study of characteristics such as site area, geographical location, topographical condition, and architectural remains, it can be stated that a number of the Achaemenid sites along the banks of the Hirmand River are the remains of garrisons or waystations (a type of caravanserai) that guarded one of the ancient routes in the eastern Achaemenid Empire and the caravans that traversed it. The other Achaemenid sites in this region represent small villages that were established along the banks of the Hirmand River.