Comparative study between geological natural resources and its archaeological importance at bazian, Sulaimaniya and Qusair, Karbala

Abstract EN

Ancient human at Bazian and Qusair sites exploited geodiversity and other natural resources for his daily uses such as food, water, building materials and protection himself from nature danger and other enemies.

Bazian site is located about 20 km west Sulaimaniya city, northeastern Iraq and Qusair site is located south west Karbala city, near Razaza Lake, middle of Iraq.

Rock units exposed near Bazian and Qusair sites are: limestone, dolostone, dolomitic limestone, marly limestone, marl, gypsum, claystone, mudstone, sandstone.

Limestone and dolostone were used for building, gypsum was used for manufacturing mortar and claystone for mud bricks, fired bricks and pottery.

Many landforms may be used for human demands such as: mountains, plateaus, slopes, undulated hills, fractures, and caves when he chose the place which protects him from nature danger or from any expected enemy.

Soil type is composed of sandy, muddy and clayey.

Water resources of studied area comprises precipitation of rain and snow, streams, springs and wells which may be used for drinking by animals and human, irrigations and other domestic uses.

Soil and water resources play important role on grow and enrich of plant diversity.

The plant may be used for human foods, grazing, fuel, and wine products.

Some of animals were hunted and used for food, such as: wild goat, wild hare, chukar, see partridge, Persian squirrels, falcon; and others may be considered as a savage or enemies such as: Persian leopard, red fox, jukale, wolf and brown bear.

Inspite of the far distance between Bazyan and Qusair, but there were many similar factors such as : building materials, technology of building, some of land forms, type of soil, water resources, religious beliefs and others which refers to trade or cultural exchanges or both of them.