This first occupation of the site of Shar-e Rayy, today Shah abdul ‘Azim, can be dated to the Chalcolitic. It was followed by occupations dated to the Iron Age I and II, with some indices of Iron Age III, which can be quite well located in the area where the city of Rayy later raised up. The current fortified city corresponds to the city in the Parthian period, probably already in the era of Mithradates I (171–138 bce). In this period the Parthian occupation extended over the fortified city, Češmeh ʿAlī and the tepe further to the west, Ḥussaynābād and Bībī Zubayda, as observed by Pascal Coste in 1840–41. In the Sasanian period some structural interventions have been identified within the fortified city, but a denser occupation raised up south of the early settlement, at Tepe Mil, Čāl Ṭarḫān, ʿEšqābād (ʿIšqābād) and Niẓāmābād. During the first years of Muslim rule, Rayy was a main military outpost for the conquest and the control of the eastern provinces of the Islamic empire. At the end of the 7th century, different Arab communities were transferred to Rayy. During the following decades Rayy expanded. The citadel was reconstructed with stones and mortar, and a mosque has been discovered in the šahrestān and dated to the 158 H/775 ce. During this early ʿAbbāsid period, Rayy underwent considerable restoration and expansion resulting in the creation of a new town called Muḥammadiyya. In the Buiyd period, Rayy was one of the most important political and economic centres of the Jibal with Isfahan, Shiraz and Hamadhan. During the Seljūq period Rayy expanded beyond the ramparts. Small rural agglomerations surrounded the city and a large necropolis developed to the eastern side. During the 12th century, Rayy must have extended over approximately 1,000 hectares, intra and extra muros. The inner city also developed, as can be observed by the discoveries realized in the shahrestan. A madrasa was identified during excavations because of the discovery of eywan opening off from a central court and small chambers flanking them. Another madrasa, also dated to the Salğūq period, was later found by the Archaeological Services of Iran. The Mongol invasion has been observed through the thick layers of burnt material and ground over the Salğūq occupations. Above them, no other layers can be observed, the city partially moved to Varamin.