Landscape change and settlement dynamics in Prehistory and Late Antiquity in the Firuzabad plain (South Fars, Iran); a preliminary consideration

The Firuzabad Plain in south Fars (Iran) is well known due to the circular city of Ardashir-Xurra, first Sasanian (220 – 651 CE) capital, built by Ardashir Papakan around 220 CE, but its landscape evolution not. a relatively large and well-watered intermediate plain Zagros folded belt, about 80 km Shiraz. archaeological record suggests thin sporadic prehistoric occupation compared dense planned with extensive land use Later Antiquity. Historical accounts suggest drastic anthropogenically triggered change third century during city’s foundation, including draining swamps changing course main river make supposedly unhabitable wetlands into flourishing perfectly city. Such large-scale projects are from other areas as part early Iranshahr concept have been historically discussed. However, their proposed has never investigated using interdisciplinary methods support or falsify this narrative. Therefore, subjected recent project comprehend Prehistory Late Antiquity address issue geoarchaeological data. This paper reports preliminary results discusses future steps Firuzabad. authors present area geomorphological terms elaborate on analyses, surface sub-surface soil sediment texture, organic matter, slope, elevation plain, integrated historical investigation. Based these results, seems changed original state heterogeneous, poorly drained, highly eroded mosaic well-planned extensively used anthropogenic landscapes Independent comparisons regional paleoenvironmental records those interpretations. considered case study for investigating long-term human-environment interaction within framework Niche Construction Theory archaeology Ancient Near East.