The Role of Ancient Roads in the Formation of Trade Networks in Iran: A Case Study of the Lut Desert

Abstract

This study employed a mixed-method approach, integrating field data, historical sources, and GIS spatial analyses, The Lut Desert, which at first glance seemed like a major obstacle, functioned as a “vital corridor” in the heart of the Iranian trade network during the third to first millennia BC. Based on recent archaeological investigations at the sites of Shahdad, Mokhtarabad, and Keshit, two main east-west and north-south axes formed in the heart of this desert, connecting Sistan and Khorasan to the central plateau and the ports of the Persian Gulf. This research aimed to redefine the role of the Lut Desert in ancient Iranian trade networks and was conducted using a mixed research method (combining field data, historical sources, and spatial analysis). The findings show that, contrary to the common perception of Lut as a natural barrier, this desert played the role of an active communication corridor linking the civilizational centers of eastern and western Iran. The identification of optimal caravan routes and related settlements along the route is evidence of this communication function. As a result, the Lut Desert can be considered not as a detour, but as a civilizational artery in the ancient Iranian trade network. These routes enabled the transportation of lapis lazuli, copper, precious stones, and spices, and at the same time established the establishment of caravanserais, intermountain plains, and scattered springs as nodes of trade centers. By studying the distribution of metals, imported pottery, and metalworking techniques, the present article shows that Lut is not only not a barrier, but also, by managing its harsh environment, it formed the political-economic foundation of later Iranian empires in an area from China to the Mediterranean