3
The first known example of these belts, was a complete belt from Khurvin which was introduced by
Ghirshman (Ghirshman, 1964). Within the next years Moorey introduced some other examples from
clandestine excavations and attribute them to Luristan based on their decorations (Moorey and Ryder
1967: 86; Moorey 1971: 241- 245). Kleiss excavations at Bisutun yielded another belt with double spiral-
end (Kleiss, 1989: 28, fig. 6). Neghaban excavations in Marlik yielded more spiral-end belts in situ in graves
(Neghahban 1995; 1996). The last belt with double spiral-end has been recovered from Hasanlu warrior
graves. This belt was first published by Muscarella (Muscarell 1988) and then by Danti and Cifarelli in the
Hasanlu publication project (Danti & Cifarelli 2013).
Based on decorating techniques and motifs on them these belts could be studied in three types and sub-
types. The “spiral end belts with decorations in dotted techniques, repoussé/ stud”, spiral end belts
decorated in “linear technique”, and the “plain” examples.
The Belts:
Up to now 17 examples of belts, ended in double spirals, complete or in the fragment, are known. Among
them, 11 have been reported during archaeological excavations. One belt from Khurvin (Ghirshman,
1964), one belt from Bisutun (Kleiss, 1989, fig. 6), 8 belts from Marlik (Negahban 1964: pl. II, IV, V, VIII; fig.
103-5, Io7-II5, 136-I42; 1995: 98- 102, figs. 86- 91; 1996: figs, 876, 878, 881, 887), and a belt terminal
fragment ended in a double spiral also, had been recovered from Hasanlu (Muscarella 1988: 49, fig. 58).
The last 6 specimen and fragments, without exact provenance, are now scattered in various museums
and private collections in the world. Prior to Marlik examples most of these belts were attributed to
Luristan by Moorey and Calmeyer by comparing their terminals with some parallel endings in some
bracelets and pin heads said to come from Luristan (Moorey 1967: 87; 1971: 243; Calmeyer 1971: 692;
Zahlhaas 2002, figs.91, 161, 162, 64).
These belts are rectangular metal strips
1
with dimensions varying from 6 to 8.6 cm in height
2
and from 46
cm reaching to 60 cm.
in length, but all of them end in “double spiral terminals” which is their
prominent
characteristics.
An overall look at these belts would demonstrate that, other than their peculiar endings, what is making
them different from other contemporary metal belts, is their plainness or simple decorations. According
to Moorey and Rydner this is a rare characteristic among the metal belts in the western half of Iran during
Iron Ages (Moorey & Rydner 1967: 86). In contrast to the belts from northwestern Iran, Ziwiye, Ardebil
and Hasanlu, and western Iran, Luristan which are elaborately decorated, there exist plain examples
among spiral-end belts. Whether this is because of their practical functions or their mass production or
whether it is their local characteristics in a specific region requires much more examples from controlled
excavations.
Eight spiral-end belts have been recovered from 4 tombs at Marlik, which included eight fragmented
examples made of a thin bronze sheet. Among them there are 4 plain belts, with no decoration (Figure.
2), three from tomb 47 and one from Tomb 52 (Negahban 1995: 98, figs. 87-88, 90- 91). There is a parallel
example to these belts in Ashmolean Museum. This belt has been attributed to Luristan by Moorey
(Moorey 1971: 241, fig. 460). He also attributes the British Museum plain spiral-end belt to Luristan
1
. In some examples this heights are varying, as in the middle are broader and tapering gently to the both ends.
2
. It’s except Marlik examples because Negahban has not mentioned their heights.
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4
although he points out the absence of “highly decorative features” in these belts in contrast to Luristan
and northwestern Iran examples (Moorey & Rydner 1967: 86).
Decorated spiral-end belts have simple decorations executed in three techniques- dotted, chased or
repoussé linear and a mixture of them. The excavated decorated belts from Marlik (Negahban 1995: 97-
98, figs. 86, 89; 1996: Pl. Pl. XVI, 185) are all decorated in dotted techniques (Figure. 3).
Their designs are
composed of a set of blobs of various sizes in various orders such as rosettes or geometrical patterns.
These three belts are coming from two tombs, the most elaborately decorated belt is the belt at Marlik
comes from tomb 26, a band of rosettes, composed of a small projecting blob at the center which is
surrounded by four or five blobs covers its middle and a band of parallel vertical lines consist of three tiny
dots decorates the borders while the whole surface of this belt is filled with small dots (Negahban 1995:
98, fig. 86). Another belt fragment, 31.0 cm, is decorated with a single row of repoussé dots along its
edges (Negahban 1995: 97, Pl. XVI. 185).
The next belt, from tomb 52, is a rectangular shaped strip and seems to be the broadest belt among Marlik
spiral-end belts. It is decorated with a band of short vertical lines composed of three tiny dots in upper
and lower edges and four dots at the both ends while the whole surface of the belt is
filled with tiny dots
(Negahban 1995: 98, fig. 89). Moreover there are some broken pieces of bronze sheets, presumably, belts,
have been recovered from Marlik tombs which are decorated in dotted technique (Negahban 1995: figs.
94- 96). The belt recovered from Bisutun excavations also is decorated in the same technique as the Marlik
decorated belts, the borders of the belt is decorated by big blobs with four smaller blobs in their intervals
(Kleiss, 1989: fig. 6)
The next comparable belt to these examples is a complete belt without exact provenance. This belt is now
in a private collection possession in Oxford
3
. Moorey attributes this belt to Luristan with “no doubt”
(Moorey 1971: 243). Like Marlik belts, this belt, has been decorated in dotted techniques. Dots on this
border are ordered in 4 parallel rows along the belt length (Moorey & Ryder 1967: Pl. Ic; 1971: 243), this
belt doesn’t have the pierced holes at the base of its spiral ends instead it has two holes in both upper
and lower edges.
Among the spiral-end belts decorated in dotted techniques, there are two belts in Ashmolean Museum
with decorations executed in somehow different techniques than the previous ones. On these belts along
dots and blobs, there can be seen some rather stylized human figures rendered in repoussé lines. On one
of them, there appear two stylized naked male figures with arms raised on both sides (Figure 4). One of
these figures is rendered standing on an animal. The remaining part of the belt’s surface is decorated with
blobs in various orders -two blobs standing vertically and three other making a triangle at one end and
two standing vertically on the other. On the opposed sides, there are three rows of vertical lines of 6 blobs
and the borders are decorated with a band of chased crossed motifs. In one end there remains a rivet
(Moorey 1971: 241- 2). The different characteristic of this belt is the technique in which these designs
have been rendered. The human figures and the circles have been executed in repoussé linear technique.
The periphery in both figures and blobs have been margined by tiny dots. It seems that the smith first
rendered the figures then surrounded them by tiny dots. According to its decoration this belt may belong
to a later time than previous examples.
The next Ashmolean belt contains three naked male figures with the same gesture –raised hands on both
sides -two at both ends set vertically and the third parallel to the ends between two panels of four blobs.
3
. This belt is in the possession of Mrs. R. Maxwell-Hyslop.
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