Excavations at Ghubayra, Iran, 1971-1976 2000

This volume contains the final report of four seasons' excavations, sponsored by the School of Oriental and African Studies and the Iranian Centre for Archaeological Research, at the medium-sized Iranian township of Ghubayra, near Kirman.

Ghubayra lies at the crossing of the Caliphal eastern highway from the head of the Persian Gulf to Sistan and Sind, and of the routes from Kirman City to Jiruft and the Gulf seaports around Old Hormuz. Excavations reveal that the substantial Islamic ruins overlie traces of Sasanian occupation, including a significant find of Sasanian coins, and a system of subterranean burial chambers, in all probablity of Elamite origin, but re-used in later centuries. The site provides a full sequence of Islamic pottery styles, including early monochrome green glaze, splashed ware, slip-painted fabrics, Seljuk "sgraffiato" and, above all, a terminal spread of multi-coloured underglaze-painted and "Sultanabad" materials.

Accompanying coin finds indicate a terminal date for urban settlement coinciding with Timur's invasion of Kirman province in 935/1393, and there are examples of the problematic Islamic bronze weights, which conform with the classification of Balog.

Other finds include interesting Islamic metalwork and a striking collection of glassware representing the little-known post-Mongol period, besides beads, a lacquer fragment and several textile specimens.

The extensive plans and illustrations make this the best-surveyed archaeological Islamic town-site in southern Iran.