Rivers in the making; the definition of “Nahr” as a hybrid watercourse based on geoarchaeological evidence from Southwestern Iran

Abstract This paper explores a new perspective to study the settlement dynamics of riverine landscapes by addressing human–environment interaction in Ancient Near East through integration remote sensing, geodata, and developing definition category watercourse. The complex entangled network watercourses archaeologically crucial region southwestern Iran, Greater Susiana, hinders clear view spatial relations between ancient settlements their respective environments. are known be either natural (rivers) or anthropogenic (canals) origin. However, many current do not fit into category, which causes misinterpretations archaeological record. introduces third consists hybrid two existing categories suggests using term “Nahr” address such watercourses. author implements this idea case study, Nahr-e Atiq, watercourse north passes prominent sites, Abu Fanduweh Haft Tappeh. Based on results geoarchaeological investigation(including survey, eight sediment cores, several soil profiles, as well 58 sites), hydro-morphologic elements presented for identifying Nahrs. These include sedimentation, morphology, physical characteristics. most aspect is biography Nahr, these might consist different sections with genesis. argues that defined here, must considered an artifact, studied landscape archaeology East.