established the framework for subsequent research at Tepe Hissar. Among their main accomplishments were a timely publication of a preliminary report, a final topographic map of the site and the Damghan region, soundings to retrieve occupational strata and burials, and general observations of architecture. Above all, they systematically recorded large quantities of objects from several hundred graves. Schmidt devised a preliminary sequence of occupational strata grouped into Periods I, II, III, based on the ceramic typology from graves. He placed painted pottery in the earliest and grey pottery in the later strata, and defined each group by surface color, technique, shape, and decoration. He recognized the breadth of the divisions of his chronological scheme, so he aimed for a more finely-tuned division of his chronology in the second season of excavation.
J. The 1932 Excavation Season
The main objectives of the second season of excavations at Tepe Hissar4 were, first, to complete the DF09 area sounding on the Main Mound and second, to open up larger areas of the South Hill, the North Flat, Treasure Hill, and the Painted Pottery Flat to sample the various periods. Schmidt commented (1937:297), “By eliminating in the final report the material obtained during the testing operations and described [in the 1933 report], we gain a much clearer impression of the culture sequences and of the individual culture complexes.” Of course this approach eliminates the need for careful reanalysis of the 1931 data and also eliminates a quantity of unique material.
J.1 Methods
The same excavation methods of were used in 1932 as in the 1931 season.
J.1.1 Maps, Elevations and Cross-Sections
The basic maps made in 1931 were not reproduced in 1937 with the exception of the topographic site plan with superimposed grid (Schmidt 1937: fig. 16). The names of general areas, Main Mound, etc., are now included on the plan. The plan with grid system is reproduced for each period with excavated squares filled in with black: Period I (ibid., fig. 21); Period II (ibid., fig. 61); and Period III (ibid., fig. 83). Cross-sections, as in 1931, continue to be provided in an east-west direction for excavated squares. As in 1931, north-south cross-sections are lacking.
J.1.2 Grid System, Quadrants, “Plots,” Plot Record Numbers, Sections [Rooms/Areas]
The 1931 system continued largely unchanged. Plot record numbers (pr) do not as a rule appear on the plans, although they are often mentioned in the field catalogue. On the other hand, section “S” (i.e., room) numbers are included in the 1937 report: the Painted Pottery Flat, figs. 24–27 (section numbers listed consecutively); the South Hill, fig. 63; the North Flat Level 1, fig. 102, and Level 2 (Burned Building), fig. 91. No such numbers are added to the plan of the Main Mound, fig. 86 (but are preserved in a separate plan in the archives, see below), or on the Treasure Hill plan, fig. 95.
J.1.3 Field Catalogue
The field catalogue from 1931 was carried forward with sequential H numbers ending with H5278.
J.1.4 Plans
Large plans are provided for the major excavated areas as line drawings by the architect: Painted Pottery Flat, (Schmidt 1937: figs. 22 and 23), South Hill (including Building 4) (ibid., fig. 62), Main Mound (including Buildings 1–3) (ibid., fig. 84), the North Flat Level 1 (ibid., fig. 103), Burned Building Level 2 (ibid., fig. 90), and Treasure Hill (ibid., fig. 101). These are the original records from the field. A second set of these plans is provided with Schmidt’s inked-in walls, giving his later interpretation of period and structure. The architectural elements on the plans is obscured by an overload of superimposed burial icons, section (i.e., room), and rarely wall numbers and depth shadings for the walls. The reading of structural plans is made difficult by the inclusion of walls over-riding and underlying the given structures. Furthermore, of great importance but never pointed out, is the fact that although drawn as if on a single excavated level (e.g., the Main Mound, [ibid., fig. 84]), different squares, in fact, lie at different levels (those to the west of Buildings 1 and 2, for example, were 1–2 m higher than the floors of those buildings).
K. Periodization
In 1932, Schmidt (1937: IIA, 106, 299, 303, IIIA, 155, 307) introduced the transitional Periods IIA and IIIA. Their definition is, however, rather vague (Fig. 1.7).
Also, in terms of occupational debris, these two periods are ill-defined. However, these terms are defined ceramically in the 1937 publication:
Thus the group of vessels attributed to Hissar IC may include specimens of Hissar IB and others of the final phase (IIA) of the painted pottery era, overlapping with the beginning of Period I. (Schmidt 1937:48)
Nearly all painted vessels described…were found in graves which also contained the typical grey ware of Hissar II. Consequently, there is no doubt that these vessels belong to the last sub-phase of the painted pottery era, overlapping the beginning of the era of grey ceramics. (ibid., p. 108)
Hissar IB [is] marked by the appearance of the wheel.…The final phase of pottery decoration…is marked by extreme conventionalization of certain Hissar IC patterns, the gazelle design offering the most striking example. Felines disintegrate.…The ibex and the bird seem to have disappeared entirely.…pottery makers turn again to the simple style of decoration used…during Period IA.…At times we could distinguish potsherds only by means of the wheelmarks present on the Hissar II ware [cups and bowls]. (ibid., p. 108)
Fig. 1.7 Correspondence between Schmidt’s defined Levels and Periods.
Vessels and sherds with long-necked gazelles always appear in deposits with an admixture of Hissar II grey ware” (ibid., p. 109); “only such vessels [Hissar IIA grey bowls] are described and pictured as were found associated with painted vessels in the graves.…Bowls with exaggerated tall stems [occur] solely in the grey ware vessels of Hissar II[A]. (ibid., p. 112)
We have little doubt that goblets also occur in the transitional IIA layer, though we have not found specimens definitely attributable to this time. (ibid., p. 114)
However, the very facts that the old chalice form persists and that during the first sub-phase of the new culture period [IIA] painted vessels of the last Hissar I sub-period [IC] rest in the same graves beside the grey pots of the new type, indicate that Hissar I did not end in a destructive catastrophe (ibid., p. 302)
Hissar IIIA is the period of transition from Hissar II to Hissar III…a layer containing material with both Hissar II and III characteristics. In several instances, we are sure, individual objects and even entire graves of Hissar IIB or Hissar IIIB were attributed to this transitional layer, due to find conditions.…The stemmed vessels of Hissar II type…do not show any distinctive features…surviving painted vessels…resemble the surviving vessels of Hissar II more closely than those of Hissar III…the [grey ware] bottle-pitcher appears for the first time…the brazier…occurs during all sub-phases of Hissar III. (ibid., pp. 178, 180)
The technique, the color scheme and the forms of the painted Hissar IIA vessels are identical with the corresponding features of the Hissar IC ware. Partly conventionalized feline patterns occur towards the end of Hissar IC, as well as in IIA…some very distinct features…of Hissar IIA…do not occur in any of the other sub-periods of Hissar I. The most characteristic…pattern is the long-necked gazelle, in certain cases conventionalized beyond recognition.…The disintegration…of the feline pattern is also a typical feature.…The leopard is turning into a headless and tailless decorative element. The designs of some Hissar IIA vessels…resemble…the earliest painted ware of Hissar IA…the color scheme is also identical. On sherds the wheelmarks on the later [IIA] ware sometimes have to decide to which sub-period they should be attributed.…[Grey ware] neckless jars…tall-stemmed bowls or goblets, unstemmed bowls and jars, in addition to…parallel ridges and stipples, suggesting prototypes of metal, are newly introduced features; still, the main ceramic evidence for distinguishing Hissar II and III is the frequency of the stemmed vessel during the first period of grey ware and the absence of stemmed vessels