220 FROM GALEHDAR TO BUSHIRE [Chap. VIII
reconnaissance of remains reported on the southern side of the valley. Before reaching Galehdâr, the chief place of the valley at a distance of 5 miles from camp, a wide torrent-bed was crossed. It issues from the mouth of a valley down which leads an alternate route from the coast, diverging at Kul-i-kargh, and said also to show traces of old road-making. Galehdâr proved to be a large village, holding within its decayed walls probably more than 300 homesteads. But many of the houses were deserted, owing to languishing trade and the prevailing conditions of insecurity. The latter were significantly illustrated by the number of armed men from villages of the neighbourhood whom we met on the road. Our own tufangchis, probably with reason, assumed them to be on their way to join the Qâshgai rising.
About half a mile to the east of Galehdâr there rises to a height of some 33 feet a conspicuous mound, known as Tump-i-Podu. It measures about 140 yards in diameter. It bears remains of rough stone walls on its slopes, and more of them found on the narrow top show that it was probably occupied in later times for defence. The potsherds picked up on the surface were of a very mixed character. Apart from plentiful red and dark-brown unglazed pottery, there were to be found numerous fragments of dark-blue and green ware, both plain and with incised patterns resembling the type found at Sirâf. But pieces of painted prehistoric pottery like Pod. 10, 11, 13 ( Pl. XXVI ) were also picked up, as well as others of a slightly ribbed burnished ware ( Pod. 6; Pl. XXVI ), which may date from early historical times. Considering the occupation thus indicated during varying periods and the size of the mound, the Tump-i-Podu did not invite the rapid trial excavation that alone was possible in the circumstances prevailing.
The village of Fâl, at which old remains had been reported, was reached after a march of about 4 miles down the valley from Galehdâr. The village was said at that time to count about 150 households. But that Fâl had been once a place of some importance was proved by the fact that an extensive area adjoining it on the west and south was covered with low debris mounds and decayed Muhammadan tombs. This site stretches from west to east for fully a mile. Many tombstones ( Fig. 82), covered with fine relief tracery and Kufic writing, lie about in groups mostly upturned and broken. A ruined mosque (Fig. 84) still retains its southwest wall faced with dressed slabs and steps leading up to the pulpit. A Kufic inscription to the right of the mihrâb was broken. Fâl is mentioned in Muqaddasi's Geography' by its present name, but locally its traditional name was given as Dczr-us-safi . The remains of decorated pottery consisted mainly of glazed green and blue ware, bearing relief or incised designs and closely resembling
1 Cf. Schwarz, Iran im Mittelalter, p. 80.
IIIFカラー高解像度
