Location map: the Near (Middle) east showing the location within Iran of the major Bronze Age (3^rd and early 2^nd millennium BC) site of Shahr-i Sohkte (also transcribed as Shahr-e Sokhta, Shahr-e Sukhteh etc.).

Relative locations of Shahr-i Sokhte and Mundigak (near Kandahar, Afghanistan), along the Helmand river. Settlement clusters either along the edges of the mountains, or in the river-delta which forms an oasis of settled life.

The Helmand delta shows a characteristic pattern of successive alluvial cones of deposition, with reedswamp and seasonally fluctuating lakes beyond. Cultivation is concentrated on the active fan.

Survey of evidence for Bronze Age settlement, superimposed on the above image, showing the concentration of activities on a then active but now largely abandoned alluvial fan. (Map from Tosi 1973)

Enlarged segment of the previous satellite image, showing the contrast between Plio-Pleistocene terraces (brown) and the later floodplain (white).

Results of surface survey and excavation in the areas of terrace-edge visible in the above satellite image, with classification according to major functional areas, after survey by Tosi et al..

Approximate location of activity areas identified above on this 30m resolution Landsat image.