Research Paper
Silent Landscapes, Enduring Communities: An Ethnoarchaeological Approach to Manujan’s Subsistence
Authors: Mahbubeh Naseri Tehrani, Fariba Mosapour Negari, & Mehdi Mortazavi
Year: 2024, Volume: 15, Page/Article: 223-244, DOI: https://doi.org/10.47509/AA.2024.v15i.13
Abstract
Ethnoarchaeology plays a crucial role in bridging the gap between the material remains of the past and the lived experiences of past societies. By studying the relationship between modern cultures and their environment, ethnoarchaeology offers invaluable insights into the interpretation of archaeological data. This study focuses on Manujan, Iran, a highland region situated close to Jaz Murian Basin and the Persian Gulf in south Iran. Despite numerous historical cemeteries, evidence of permanent settlements remains elusive, suggesting a historical reliance on nomadism. However, confirmation requires further archaeological investigation alongside studies of modern subsistence practices. Manujan presents a unique opportunity due to its complete cultural sequence and abundant ancient cemeteries.
A 2009 archaeological survey identified 134 sites, offering valuable data. Additionally, research on modern village subsistence patterns provided insights into regional subsistence strategies. This descriptive-analytical study, guided by mediation theory, explores how geography and subsistence practices have shaped the lives of inhabitants from antiquity to the present. The evidence suggests a shift from a pre-Islamic nomadic system characterized by pastoralism with occasional horticulture to a semi-nomadic structure that persists in the Islamic period. However, this structure has undergone significant changes, including the expansion of rural and urban centers, alongside a rise in agriculture, horticulture, and sedentism.