Geoarchaeology as a tool to understand ancient navigation in the northern Persian Gulf and the harbour history of Siraf

Majid Pourkerman · Nick Marriner · Christophe Morhange · Morteza Djamali A · Giorgio Spada · Sedighe Amjadi +5 more

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Maritime and Coastal Archaeology Global Maritime and Colonial Histories Marine and environmental studies

Abstract

Historical texts and archaeological studies attest to the maritime and trade importance of the Persian Gulf since the Sassanid Empires. Nonetheless, there is a paucity of data regarding ancient navigation and the reasons for a shift in maritime trade from the western (e.g. Shatt-al-Arab) to eastern (Siraf) Persian Gulf by the Abbasid dynasty. For some scholars, Siraf was occupied between 360 and 977 CE, after which time an earthquake entrained the demise of the city. However, it is unclear when Siraf was founded and how natural navigation conditions changed for ocean-going vessels in harbours of the NW Persian Gulf. To address this knowledge gap, we here present new geoarchaeological data from Siraf. Two anthropogenic facies were detected in drilled cores. They suggest that Siraf dates back to 2 BC-317 CE. After a hiatus, a second occupation phase began during the reign of Shapur II. Relative Sea-Level (RSL) fluctuations, climate change and Persian Gulf bathymetry all affected the possible nautical accessibility of this ancient Persian harbour. A fall in RSL, leading to a shortening of navigable water columns and amplified summer-time Shamal wind from 550 CE onwards possibly led to a loss in the importance of Shatt-al-Arab and other ports in the western Persian Gulf. It appears to have made Siraf the best alternative for seafarers. According to the wind regimes, the best time for arrival and departure from Siraf was August and October, respectively. RSL rise and increasing coastal erosion during the winter-time Shamal winds led to the degradation of harbour potentialities and was possibly at the origin of economic decline and poorly adapted harbour works at Siraf during a 150-year period between 850 and 1000 CE.

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References

1973Sasanian Maritime Trade 2006Geoscience of ancient Mediterranean harbours 2013Geoarchaeology confirms location of the ancient harbour basin of Ostia (Italy)2005Geoarchaeology of Tyre's ancient northern harbour, Phoenicia 1988Slaves, Spices and Ivory in Zanzibar: Integration of an East African Commercial Empire into the World Economy, 1770-1873 2006Geoarchaeology of Sidon's ancient harbours, Phoenicia 1970Persian Gulf Seafaring and East Africa: Ninth-Twelfth Centuries 2010Coastal and ancient harbour geoarchaeology

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