日本建築学会計画系論文集 第89巻 第821号, 1373-1378，2024年7月 J. Archit. Plann., AIJ, Vol. 89, No. 821, 1373-1378, Jul., 2024 DOI https://doi.org/10.3130/aija.89.1373 — 1373 — ＊1 Prof., Faculty of Engineering, University of the Ryukyus, Dr.Eng. ＊2 Prof., Institute for Space-Earth Environmental Research (ISEE), Nagoya University, Dr.Sc. ＊3 Doctoral Candidate, Graduate School of Engineering and Science, University of the Ryukyus, M.Sc. ＊4 Doctoral Candidate, Graduate School of Engineering and Science, University of the Ryukyus, M.Sc. ＊5 Collaborating Researcher, School of Architecture and Urbanism, University of São Paulo, Dr.Eng. 琉球大学工学部　教授・博士（工学） 名古屋大学宇宙地球環境研究所（ISEE） 教授・博士（理学） 琉球大学理工学研究科博士後期課程，修士（科学） 琉球大学理工学研究科博士後期課程，修士（科学） サンパウロ大学建築都市学部　連携研究員・博士（工学） 【カテゴリーⅠ】 RADIOCARBON DATING OF THE CITY WALL IN THE OLD CITY OF HERAT, AFGHANISTAN AND HYPOTHESIS BASED ON THE DATING アフガニスタン、ヘラート旧市街の都市壁の放射性炭素年代測定と測定結果に基づく仮説 Tetsuya ANDO ＊1 , Hiroyuki KITAGAWA ＊2 , Sayed Shoaib SAMIMI ＊3 , Sayed Abdul Baset SAMIMI ＊4 and Sayed Abdul Basir SAMIMI ＊5 安藤徹哉，北川浩之，サミミ サイード ショアイブ， サミミ サイード アブドゥル バセット，サミミ サイード アブドゥル バシール In this study, samples taken from the remaining parts of the city wall of the Old City of Herat were analyzed through radiocarbon dating to determine the date of construction for the first time. The results indicate that the city wall was most probably constructed between AD 441-649 (likely between AD 535-649). AD 535-649 roughly coincides with the period between the construction of the defensive wall of Gorgan and the destruction of the Sasanian dynasty by the Arab-Islamic powers. The hypothesis is that Khosrow I built the city wall as a fortified settlement at the end of the sixth century. Keywords: Afghanistan, Herat, Old City, City Wall, Radiocarbon dating アフガニスタン、ヘラート, 旧市街、都市壁、放射性炭素年代測定 1. Introduction There are various theories about the origin of the city wall in the Old City of Herat (hereafter referred to as the Old City) (Fig. 1), the ancient capital of western Afghanistan, from the time of Alexander the Great to the Islamic period (Gaube 1979; Najimi 1988; Grenet 1996). The city wall (Fig. 2), including the parapet, was once about 30 meters high and 30 meters wide at the bottom, and a moat surrounded the wall (Samimi and Ando 2022, 948). Although such a significant structure in the past, over time, the city wall was demolished, and now only a few parts remain. While the city has a long history as an oasis city on the Silk Road trade route, with records of Alexander the Great’s passage, Herat is the third largest city in Afghanistan and has been a continuously inhabited urban area until today. The Old City is located in the center of Herat City, and almost the entire area is covered with buildings. As a result, there are only a limited number of places where archaeological excavations can be conducted. Previous excavations have found no artifacts from the pre-Islamic period (Franke and Urban 2017). The oldest dated artifact seems to be from AD 846, inscribed on a marble headstone found during the restoration of the Khwaja Rokhband Mosque and Cistern Complex by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) (AKTC 2017, 172). Because of the difficulty of archaeological excavations and the lack of reliable literature on the process of its formation, previous studies on the origin of the city wall of the Old City have relied mainly on Fig. 2 Herat Old City sketch (source: Illustrated London News 1863) Fig. 1 Map of Herat, Afghanistan