Despite obstacles, the Great Wall of Gorgan could win UNESCO status

[Imperial Dave]

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/455667/Despite-obstacles-the-Great-Wall-of-Gorgan-could-win-UNESCO

didnt know about this wall previously.....

[Andreas Johansson]

It's been mentioned a number of times on the forum. Duncan had a few words to say about a book about it here:

http://soa.org.uk/sm/index.php?topic=719

Doug sometimes brings it up as evidence for regular infantry in Sassanid armies: the forts along it don't have stables for horses for the entire garrisons.

[Imperial Dave]

It's been mentioned a number of times on the forum. Duncan had a few words to say about a book about it here:

http://soa.org.uk/sm/index.php?topic=719

Doug sometimes brings it up as evidence for regular infantry in Sassanid armies: the forts along it don't have stables for horses for the entire garrisons.

thanks Andreas....yes interesting about the lack of stables

[DBS]

I think it more accurate to say that stables have not been positively identified.  The forts have symmetrical blocks of buildings, clearly "barracks" of some description, but the excavators have never had the evidence to go beyond that - were they all plain barrack rooms, were they stables with an upper storey for the chaps, or even family quarters since there is no evidence of significant vici style external communities?  The very large fortified enclosures behind the wall are reckoned to be forward operating bases for campaign armies - a permanent fortified base, but without any internal structures, just turn up, pitch your tents inside and let the horses graze in what are essentially massive paddocks.

[Imperial Dave]

Yes, lack of evidence isnt conclusive in this respect I guess

[DougM]

It's been mentioned a number of times on the forum. Duncan had a few words to say about a book about it here:

http://soa.org.uk/sm/index.php?topic=719

Doug sometimes brings it up as evidence for regular infantry in Sassanid armies: the forts along it don't have stables for horses for the entire garrisons.

It's only one of several fortifications in the Persian empire of the period. And Baladhuri  references the garrison troops petitioning the Shahanshah as they have been too long away from their families in remote places. So the evidence is yes the wall, but other things as well.

[DBS]

I mentioned in the Currently Reading thread the latest book edited by Sauer, which, as well as the Gorgan Wall also has a fair bit on the Sasanian fortifications in the Caucasus (incl Nagorno Karabakh, scene of the ongoing unpleasantness).  Whilst one can see a clear potential role for cavalry on the steppe north of Gorgan, any garrisons in the Caucasus would surely have needed decent infantry in reasonable numbers.  Not necessarily to the exclusion of donkey wallopers, but cavalry alone would not have sufficed.