the fall of mehrjanqadhaq on the basis of historical texts and archaeological data

an examination of historical text and archaeological data show that mehrjanqadhaq was one of the important states of western iran which had been founded and formed in a region now known as darreshsher or more exactly in saimara valley. the history of the state goes back to parthian era. archaeological data in confirmation of historical texts both indicate settlement sequence form parthian era to fourth century a.h. in saimara valley and show that this region flourished especially at third and fourth century a.h. ceramic samples, which discovered in the course of archaeological excavations, chronologically, do not go forward then fourth century a.h. therefore, we can say that merhrjanqadhaq was deserted at fourth century a.h, which is also confirmed with historical records, which point to earthquake and flood occurrence as well as cholera epidemy at this century. on the other hand, the same historical and archaeological data and the situations and extent of ancient darreshahr suggest that this site is the same as saimara city, center of mehrjanqadhaq state.