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Edited volumes by Fereidoun Biglari
Iranian Archaeology 1, Special Issue on Paleolithic Period, 2010
Over the last three decades, fresh investigations on the paleolithic period by Iranian and joint ... more Over the last three decades, fresh investigations on the paleolithic period by Iranian and joint expeditions have produced a large number of research papers and field reports that offer much new information. The time seems ripe to publish a collection of papers on recent paleolithic research in Iran. A section in the inaugural issue of the Journal is therefore devoted to this topic.
While the following papers may not cover the full range of fresh paleolithic studies in Iran, they do offer a glimpse of what is currently taking place at various parts of the country. We hope to have more contributions on this topic in the forthcoming issues of the Journal in order to facilitate access to the results of paleolithic research to archaeologists outside Iran. The present group of papers which draw upon both recent field research, and analyses of previously excavated collections, cover a wide geographical and chronological range, from the northern coast of the Persian Gulf to the shore of the Caspian Sea, and from the Lower Paleolithic to the Epipaleolithic period (Fig.1). Most of the papers in this issue illustrate the efforts of the young generation of Iranian archaeologists who are actively engaged in studying the paleolithic prehistory of their country.
National Museum of Iran, Tehran, 2020
Edited by F. Biglari, J. Nokandeh, A. Naderi Beni and A. Hozhabri --- Foreword Jebrael Nokan... more Edited by F. Biglari, J. Nokandeh, A. Naderi Beni and A. Hozhabri
---
Foreword
Jebrael Nokandeh
Persian Gulf and Caspian Sea
Abdolmajid Naderi Beni and Hamid Alizadeh Lahijani
Shell ornaments: Earliest evidence of exploitation of marine resources in Iran
Sonia Shidrang
Persian Gulf and Susa Mariners
Abbas Alizadeh
New evidence for fish and mollusc exploitation on the northern shores of the Persian Gulf during the fourth millennium BCE
Mohammad Hossien Azizi Kharanaghi, Marjan Mashkour, Sanaz Beizaie Doost, Sepideh Jamshidi Yeganeh, Afshin Akbari
A survey on an illustrated watercraft on a bullae found in Tappeh Chogha Mish
Shadi Kalantar
Seal impression of a ship from the Treasury of Persepolis
Shahrokh Razmjou
Sea in the Achaemenid Royal Inscriptions
Soheil Delshad
Two seal impressions showing boat from Susa
Sedigheh Piran
Perso-Scythian conflicts from the Aral Sea to the Black Sea
Ehsan Shavarebi
Motives related to sea in Elymayean coins
Ali Hozhabri
Historical perspective of ancient Iranian ports
Abdolmajid Naderi Beni, Hossein Tofighian
The Persian Gulf and Caspian Sea in “The cosmography of Qazwini”, Iran National Museum Manuscript
Karam Mirzaei
Economic relations between Iran and China during the Islamic period on the basis of historical documents and travel books
Leila Khamooshi
A survey of Larian silver coins in the Safavid period
Golbehesht Taghva
Siraf and its role on the international maritime trade in the ancient world
Mohammad Esmaeil Esmaeili Jelodar
Magnetic survey in the Portuquese castle of Kong
Kourosh Mohammadkhani
Lutka canoe and its role in subsistence activities at south of the Caspian Sea
Sajjad Samiei
Persian Gulf and Susa Mariners
Abbas Alizadeh
A historical account of archaeological research on the islands of the Province of Hormozgan
Sepehr Zarei
The sea on the rocks. sailing in the rock art of Gobustan
Dario Sigari
The Achaemenids and the sea(s)m
Wouter F. M. Henkelman
National Museum of Iran, Tehran, Oct 20, 2014
Edited by Fereidoun Biglari and Kamyar Abdi
Edited by Marcel Otte, Fereidoun Biglari and Jacques Jaubert, BAR S1968 2009: /Proceedings of the XV World Congress UISPP (Lisbon, 4-9 September 2006) 28, , 2009
"Papers from the session Iran Palaeolithic presented at the XV UISPP World Congress, September 20... more "Papers from the session Iran Palaeolithic presented at the XV UISPP World Congress, September 2006.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction
Marcel Otte, Fereidoun Biglari, Jacques Jaubert
The Middle Palaeolithic occupation of Mar-Tarik, a new Zagros Mousterian site in Bisotun massif (Kermanshah, Iran)
J. Jaubert, F. Biglari, V. Mourre, L. Bruxelles, J.-G. Bordes, S. Shidrang, R. Naderi,M. Mashkour, B. Maureille, J.-B. Mallye, Y. Quinif, W. Rendu & V. Laroulandie
Test Excavations at the Middle Paleolithic Sites of Qaleh Bozi, Southwest of Central Iran. A Preliminary Report
Fereidoun Biglari, Mohsen Javeri, Marjan Mashkour, Mehdi Yazdi, Sonia Shidrang, Margareta Tengberg, Kamal Taheri, Jamshid Darvish,
Whither the Aurignacian in the Middle East? Assessing the Zagros Upper Paleolithic
Deborah I. Olszewski
A Typo-technological Study of an Upper Paleolithic Collection from Sefid-Ab, Central Iran
Sonia Shidrang
Origines du Paléolithique supérieur en Asie occidentale
Marcel Otte, Janusz K. Kozłowski
The Upper Paleolithic faunal remains from Yafteh cave (central Zagros), 2005 campaign. A preliminary study
Marjane Mashkour, Valentin Radu, Azadeh Mohaseb, Narges ashemi,Marcel Otte, Sonia Shidrang
La séquence baradostienne de Yafteh (Khorramabad, Lorestan, Iran)
Jean-Guillaume Bordes, Sonia Shidrang
Late Pleistocene Prehistory in Central Alborz: Preliminary Results of the French and Iranian Palaeoanthropological Programme 2006 on the excavation of Garm Roud 2 (Amol,Mazandaran)
Gilles Berillon, Asghar Asgari Khaneghah, Benoît Chevrier, Patrick Auguste,Valéry Zeitoun, Muhammad Beheshti, Sara Nochadi,Hamid Ebadollahi Chanzanagh, Fernando Ramirez Rozzi, Jean-Jacques Bahain, Pierre Antoine, Carole Vercoutère
Iranian Paleolithic sites on Travertine and Tufa Formations
Saman Heydari-Guran, Elham Ghasidian, Nicholas J. Conard
Late Palaeolithic cultural traditions in the Basht region
of the Southwestern Zagros of Iran
Elham Ghasidian, Ahmad Azadi, Saman Heydari-Guran, Nicholas J. Conard
The Open-air Late Paleolithic site of Bardia and the Paleolithic Occupation of the Qaleh Gusheh Sand Dunes, Esfahan Province, Iran
Nicholas J. Conard, Elham Ghasidian, Saman Heydari-Guran
Conclusion
Marcel Otte, Fereidoun Biglari, Jacques Jaubert"
Papers by Fereidoun Biglari
Archaeologia, 2024
Located in the Zagros Mountains, not far from Kermanshah, in the country's west, the Wezmeh cave ... more Located in the Zagros Mountains, not far from Kermanshah, in the country's west, the Wezmeh cave has yielded many remains from the Upper Pleistocene and the Holocene. This archaeological documentation sheds new light on human occupations and fauna of this region for at least 70,000 years. Due to the importance of these discoveries, most of which were made in reworked sediments, the site underwent further excavations in 2019, resulting in the discovery of a large number of faunal remains along with Middle Paleolithic lithic artifacts and early Holocene archaeological remains.
Parseh Journal of Archaeological Studies, 2023
Iran holds great significance for the question of the eastward expansion of the Acheulean hominin... more Iran holds great significance for the question of the eastward expansion of the Acheulean hominins, as it is situated between the Arabian Peninsula and the Indian subcontinent, both of which have long and rich records of the Acheulean techno complex. Despite its strategic location, Iran has produced little evidence of the Acheulean techno complex. The only notable examples have been found in the western and northwestern regions of the country. The absence of Acheulean sites in southern Iran cannot be justified. Because this region, located in the northern parts of the Persian Gulf, was one of the main dispersal routes for Acheulean hominins towards the east. Here, we present a report on the discovery of a Lower Paleolithic locality near Dehtal, located in the northern region of the Persian Gulf. Additionally, we discuss the techno-typological characteristics of the lithics found in the area. Dehtal yielded a small, but characteristic lithic assemblage, which included a handaxe, a massive scraper, a large flake, and a flake core. The raw materials used are sandstone and fossiliferous limestone rock, which can be found as cobbles and boulders in secondary contexts on the northern slopes of Pare Lavar. In addition to these findings, two boulder cores with large removal scars were also documented in the area, indicating large flake production in this locality. The site offers a unique opportunity to study a lithic assemblage in a relatively unknown area within the distribution range of the Acheulean technocomplex.
ARCHÉOLOGIA, 2022
Situées au nord de l’Iran, les vastes montagnes de l’Elbourz fournissent un riche terrain pour l’... more Situées au nord de l’Iran, les vastes montagnes de l’Elbourz fournissent un riche terrain pour l’étude des interactions à long terme entre l’homme et son environnement. Par sa situation géographique, sur une voie reliant le plateau d’Azerbaïdjan et le Caucase à l’ouest et l’Asie centrale à l’est, cette région est également exceptionnelle pour comprendre les mouvements de populations et leurs caractéristiques culturelles depuis la Préhistoire.
A Collection of Archaeological Finds from Archaeological Excavations in 2019-2020, 18th Annual Symposium on the Iranian Archaeology, Edited by M. Mosalla, 2021
Wezmeh Cave is located 46 km southwest of Kermanshah, southeast of Islamabad-e Gharb, in the Qazi... more Wezmeh Cave is located 46 km southwest of Kermanshah, southeast of Islamabad-e Gharb, in the Qaziwand Mountain. Discovery of a large number of late Pleistocene faunal remains, a Neanderthal premolar tooth, as well as Early Holocene human remains and cultural materials (Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods) in this site yielded rich data that can shed new light on human occupations, and regional fauna in this part of the west-central Zagros. m Due to the importance of these finds, which mostly came from a disturbed context, the site was re-excavated in 2019. In the meantime, the surrounding region was surveyed. The aims of this season were to excavate undisturbed deposits at the rear of the cave, sieving disturbed deposits in front of the cave to collect faunal remains, potsherds, and other possible remains, to survey the surrounding region of the Wezmeh Cave within a 2 km radius of the site to identify other possible sites and the sources of stone raw material.
Scientific Reports 10, Article number: 8276 , 2020
The house mouse (Mus musculus) represents the extreme of globalization of invasive mammals. Howev... more The house mouse (Mus musculus) represents the extreme of globalization of invasive mammals. However, the timing and basis of its origin and early phases of dispersal remain poorly documented. To track its synanthropisation and subsequent invasive spread during the develoment of complex human societies, we analyzed 829 Mus specimens from 43 archaeological contexts in Southwestern Asia and Southeastern Europe, between 40,000 and 3,000 cal. BP, combining geometric morphometrics numerical taxonomy, ancient mitochondrial DNA and direct radiocarbon dating. We found that large late hunter-gatherer sedentary settlements in the Levant, c. 14,500 cal. BP, promoted the commensal behaviour of the house mouse, which probably led the commensal pathway to cat domestication. House mouse invasive spread was then fostered through the emergence of agriculture throughout the Near East 12,000 years ago. Stowaway transport of house mice to Cyprus can be inferred as early as 10,800 years ago. However, the house mouse invasion of Europe did not happen until the development of proto urbanism and exchange networks — 6,500 years ago in Eastern Europe and 4000 years ago in Southern Europe — which in turn may have driven the first human mediated dispersal of cats in Europe.
Paleorient 45-2, 2019
Since 2012, the French archaeological mission in the Governorate of Soulaimaniah has been explori... more Since 2012, the French archaeological mission in the Governorate of Soulaimaniah has been exploring the Rania and Peshdar plains in order to understand the evolution of settlement patterns in Northern Mesopotamia from the Palaeolithic to the present day. Newly acquired data from surveys combined with excavations at six prehistoric sites provide the first picture of human settlement patterns in this region from the Palaeolithic to the Chalcolithic. The development of these patterns reveals the presence of a local system that was deeply rooted in the wider Mesopotamian context but was also subject to influence from the Iranian plateau. Résumé. Depuis 2012, la mission archéologique française du Gouvernorat de Soulaimaniah explore les deux plaines de Peshdar et de Rania afin de comprendre l'évolution des systèmes d'habitat en Mésopotamie septentrionale dans la longue durée, du Paléolithique à aujourd'hui. Les données nouvellement acquises lors des prospections, ainsi que les informations issues de sondages effectués sur six sites préhistoriques permettent d'esquisser une première image des modèles d'implantation humaine dans la région, du Paléolithique jusqu'au Chalcolithique. L'évolution des modèles de peuplement montre une dynamique locale ancrée dans le système mésopotamien, mais influencée également par le plateau iranien.
Near Eastern Archaeology, 2019
The last two decades have seen a significant development in the field of rescue archaeology in Ir... more The last two decades have seen a significant development in the field of rescue archaeology in Iran due to the increasing legal protection of archaeological sites in areas that are threatened by rapid urban and rural development. The construction of numerous dams, used for irrigation, hydropower, and other purposes in different parts of the country forced the Iranian Center for Archaeological Research (ICAR) to take action and organize rescue projects. Except for a few projects in the Khuzestan and Fars regions (Wright 1979; Tsuneki and Zeidi 2008), these rescue projects have been focused mainly on excavation of mound sites, which is not surprising given that they are the most common site type in the alluvial plains of Iran. As a result, archaeological salvage projects have predominantly contributed information on late prehistoric and historic periods. The construction of Darian Dam on the Sirwan River in the Central Western Zagros, where archaeological deposits are better preserved in cave and rockshelter contexts, have allowed us to explore such sheltered sites in the framework of a dam salvage project.
Annales de Paléontologie, 2019
While bears (Ursidae) are well represented in Western Europe and the Caucasus during the Pleistoc... more While bears (Ursidae) are well represented in Western Europe and the Caucasus during the Pleistocene, bear remains from this period are rare in Southwest Asia. Only a limited number of sites, both natural and archaeological, have yielded evidence of brown bear (Ursus arctos Linnaeus, 1758). Skeletal remains for this species are often represented by a limited number of elements. The discovery of 192 remains identified as brown bear in Wezmeh Cave (Kermanshah Province, Iran) is exceptional. This paper presents a detailed description of the Wezmeh osteological assemblage, which confirms that U. arctos was already present in Zagros during the Upper Pleistocene.
Journal of Human Evolution, 2019
Wezmeh Cave, in the Kermanshah region of Central Western Zagros, Iran, produced a Late Pleistocen... more Wezmeh Cave, in the Kermanshah region of Central Western Zagros, Iran, produced a Late Pleistocene faunal assemblage rich in carnivorans along with a human right maxillary premolar, Wezmeh 1, an unerupted tooth from an 8 ± 2 year-old individual. Uranium-series analyses of the fauna by alpha spectrometry provided age estimates between 70 and 11 ka. Crown dimensions place the tooth specimen at the upper limits of Late Pleistocene human ranges of variation. Wezmeh 1 metameric position (most likely a P 3) remains uncertain and only its surficial morphology has been described so far. Accordingly, we used microfocus X-ray tomography (12.5 mm isotropic voxel size) to reassess the metameric position and taxonomic attribution of this specimen. We investigated its endostructural features and quantified crown tissue proportions. Topographic maps of enamel thickness (ET) distribution were also generated, and semilandmark-based geometric morphometric analyses of the enamel-dentine junction (EDJ) were performed. We compared Wezmeh 1 with unworn/slightly-moderately worn P 3 and P 4 of European Neanderthals, Middle Paleolithic modern humans from Qafzeh, an Upper Paleolithic premolar, and Holocene humans. The results confirm that Wezmeh 1 represents a P 3. Based on its internal confor-mation and especially EDJ shape, Wezmeh 1 aligns closely with Neanderthals and is distinct from the fossil and extant modern human pattern of our comparative samples. Wezmeh 1 is thus the first direct evidence of Neanderthal presence on the western margin of the Iranian Plateau.
Cell 177 , 2019
Horse domestication revolutionized warfare and accelerated travel, trade, and the geographic expa... more Horse domestication revolutionized warfare and accelerated travel, trade, and the geographic expansion of languages. Here, we present the largest DNA time series for a non-human organism to date,including genome-scale data from 149 ancient animals and 129 ancient genomes (R1-fold coverage),87 of which are new. This extensive dataset allows us to assess the modern legacy of past equestrian civilizations. We find that two extinct horse lineages existed during early domestication, one at the far western (Iberia) and the other at the far eastern range(Siberia) of Eurasia. None of these contributed significantly to modern diversity. We show that the influence of Persian-related horse lineages increased following the Islamic conquests in Europe and Asia.Multiple alleles associated with elite-racing, including at the MSTN ‘‘speed gene,’’ only rose in popularity within the last millennium. Finally, the development of modern breeding impacted genetic diversity more dramatically than the previous millennia of human management
Iran: Cuna de Civilizaciones, Pp.48-57, Museo Arqueológico de Alicante/ National Museum of Iran, 2019
The earliest evidence for prehistoric occupation of the Iranian Plateau dates to the Paleolithic ... more The earliest evidence for prehistoric occupation of the Iranian Plateau dates to the Paleolithic period. Stone tools and animal remains provide the bulk of the evidence for this period which start from the first appearance of human in Western Asia about 1.8 million years ago, to the end of the last Ice Age, approximately 12 thousand years ago. This period saw extreme cooling and recurrent glaciations (Ice Ages) that greatly affected early human communities who were highly dependent on available natural resources.
Iran with wide range of geographic variation and resources could support Paleolithic hunter-gatherer bands who were moving from place to place frequently to exploit resources as they become available in different areas. Archaeological remains of these early foragers have been found in a variety of places throughout the country including caves, rockshelters and open- air sites. Most of the known caves and shelters are situated in the Zagros, particularly in its western part, that are mainly developed in limestone. Archaeological excavation in these caves and shelters provide information about past human activities who used caves as temporary camps and left behind remains of their food, fireplace, remains of their stone tool manufacture and other daily activities remains.
Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports , 2018
The study of the hard animal matter assemblage from Ali Tappeh Cave, located on the southeastern ... more The study of the hard animal matter assemblage from Ali Tappeh Cave, located on the southeastern shores of the Caspian Sea, sheds new light on many unknown aspects of Epipalaeolithic ways of life in this region and expands our knowledge of techno-economic strategies using materials other than lithic artefacts. Fourteen artefacts from the collection conserved in the National Museum of Iran were selected for the present research. The osseous and shell artefacts were studied using technological and microwear approaches in order to reconstruct the different stages of the techno-economic scheme of raw material acquisition, transformation and utilization of the objects. The technical marks show the use of abrasion, scraping and grooving techniques in the debitage and shaping phases for the transformation of bone tools, shell tools and ornaments. The acquisition and transformation sequences of the shell artefacts were partially reconstructed based on the identification of the finished objects, blanks, waste or potential rough-outs and raw material blocks. The acquisition sequence primarily focused on the collection of dead shells as raw material. The potential source of these materials, the southeastern coast of the Caspian Sea, during the Epipalaeolithic was located about 40 km from the Ali Tappeh site. The choice of the blocks of raw materials only involves two species: Didacna and Cerastoderma. Three ways of raw material transformation were identified in this study: shell fracturing, probably connected to the production of discoid beads, direct shaping involving the regularization and perforation of elliptical raw material blocks for the production of pendants, direct shaping by perforating raw material blocks for the production of pendants. Suspension traces indicate their use as ornamental objects. Only one specimen in the whole assemblage was used directly, without prior transformation. The use-wear traces suggest the utilization of this shell tool for hide scraping. Similar processes are attested in some Epipalaeolithic sites in the Caucasus for the perforation of ornamental objects, suggesting analogous transformation methods for hard animal materials.
Replacement of Neanderthals by Modern Humans: Testing Evolutionary Models of Learning, Edited by Takeru Akazawa & Yoshihiro Nishiaki, RNMH Project Series, Tokyo, 2014
Recent research in a cluster of Middle Paleolithic cave and rockshelter sites near Isfahan, situa... more Recent research in a cluster of Middle Paleolithic cave and rockshelter sites near Isfahan, situated between Zagros Mountains and central desert of Iran, produced lithic assemblages showing features that are new to Iranian Middle Paleolithic industries. This paper first briefly describes some results of excavations carried out in this site
complex and then it presents analysis of obtained lithic assemblages from Qaleh Bozi Rockshelter that provide insights into the Middle Paleolithic lithic variability and human behavior in this transitional zone between high Zagros Mountains and Iranian central deserts.
We sequenced Early Neolithic genomes from the Zagros region of Iran (eastern Fertile Crescent), w... more We sequenced Early Neolithic genomes from the Zagros region of Iran (eastern Fertile Crescent), where some of the earliest evidence for farming is found, and identify a previously uncharacterized population
that is neither ancestral to the first European farmers nor has contributed significantly to the ancestry of modern Europeans. These people are estimated to have separated from Early Neolithic farmers in
Anatolia some 46-77,000 years ago and show affinities to modern day Pakistani and Afghan populations, but particularly to Iranian Zoroastrians. We conclude that multiple, genetically differentiated hunter-gatherer populations adopted farming in
SW-Asia, that components of pre-Neolithic population structure
were preserved as farming spread into neighboring regions, and
that the Zagros region was the cradle of eastward expansion.
An intensive survey of the caves and rockshelters of Kermanshah Province was planned by the Kerma... more An intensive survey of the caves and rockshelters of
Kermanshah Province was planned by the Kermanshah
provincial office of the Iranian Cultural Heritage,
Handicrafts and Tourism Organization (ICHTO) during
the late 2000s. The aim was to register the sites on Iran’s
National Register of Historic Places. These surveys,
which were initiated in 2009, provided additional
evidence for the potential of the region to yield a rich
Paleolithic record. Three teams of archaeologists
surveyed all districts of the province during 2009
and 2010 and over 300 caves and rockshelters were
identified and recorded, with archaeological material
dominated by the Upper Paleolithic and Epipaleolithic
periods, and fewer finds of the late prehistoric, historic
and Islamic periods. During these surveys a number
of previously identified sites were also re-examined.
In accordance with the research plan recommended by
the Kermanshah ICHTO, these surveys were limited to
caves and rockshelters only, and the open-air sites were
excluded. Despite all limitations, there is no doubt that
the results will facilitate planning for future protection
and excavations of the recorded sites, and help to a better
understanding of the human use of caves and rockshelters
in this part of the Zagros Mountains across a multitude of
periods. One of the districts surveyed is Salās-e Bābājāni
located in the northwest of Kermanshah Province. As far
as the archaeology of the Paleolithic period is concerned,
this region has largely remained unknown. The new
investigations resulted in identification of a significant
number of Paleolithic sites, which for the first time
yielded information for settlement patterns of the Upper
Paleolithic and Epipaleolithic hunter gatherer groups in
these lowland regions.
Iranian Archaeology 1, Special Issue on Paleolithic Period, 2010
Over the last three decades, fresh investigations on the paleolithic period by Iranian and joint ... more Over the last three decades, fresh investigations on the paleolithic period by Iranian and joint expeditions have produced a large number of research papers and field reports that offer much new information. The time seems ripe to publish a collection of papers on recent paleolithic research in Iran. A section in the inaugural issue of the Journal is therefore devoted to this topic.
While the following papers may not cover the full range of fresh paleolithic studies in Iran, they do offer a glimpse of what is currently taking place at various parts of the country. We hope to have more contributions on this topic in the forthcoming issues of the Journal in order to facilitate access to the results of paleolithic research to archaeologists outside Iran. The present group of papers which draw upon both recent field research, and analyses of previously excavated collections, cover a wide geographical and chronological range, from the northern coast of the Persian Gulf to the shore of the Caspian Sea, and from the Lower Paleolithic to the Epipaleolithic period (Fig.1). Most of the papers in this issue illustrate the efforts of the young generation of Iranian archaeologists who are actively engaged in studying the paleolithic prehistory of their country.
National Museum of Iran, Tehran, 2020
Edited by F. Biglari, J. Nokandeh, A. Naderi Beni and A. Hozhabri --- Foreword Jebrael Nokan... more Edited by F. Biglari, J. Nokandeh, A. Naderi Beni and A. Hozhabri
---
Foreword
Jebrael Nokandeh
Persian Gulf and Caspian Sea
Abdolmajid Naderi Beni and Hamid Alizadeh Lahijani
Shell ornaments: Earliest evidence of exploitation of marine resources in Iran
Sonia Shidrang
Persian Gulf and Susa Mariners
Abbas Alizadeh
New evidence for fish and mollusc exploitation on the northern shores of the Persian Gulf during the fourth millennium BCE
Mohammad Hossien Azizi Kharanaghi, Marjan Mashkour, Sanaz Beizaie Doost, Sepideh Jamshidi Yeganeh, Afshin Akbari
A survey on an illustrated watercraft on a bullae found in Tappeh Chogha Mish
Shadi Kalantar
Seal impression of a ship from the Treasury of Persepolis
Shahrokh Razmjou
Sea in the Achaemenid Royal Inscriptions
Soheil Delshad
Two seal impressions showing boat from Susa
Sedigheh Piran
Perso-Scythian conflicts from the Aral Sea to the Black Sea
Ehsan Shavarebi
Motives related to sea in Elymayean coins
Ali Hozhabri
Historical perspective of ancient Iranian ports
Abdolmajid Naderi Beni, Hossein Tofighian
The Persian Gulf and Caspian Sea in “The cosmography of Qazwini”, Iran National Museum Manuscript
Karam Mirzaei
Economic relations between Iran and China during the Islamic period on the basis of historical documents and travel books
Leila Khamooshi
A survey of Larian silver coins in the Safavid period
Golbehesht Taghva
Siraf and its role on the international maritime trade in the ancient world
Mohammad Esmaeil Esmaeili Jelodar
Magnetic survey in the Portuquese castle of Kong
Kourosh Mohammadkhani
Lutka canoe and its role in subsistence activities at south of the Caspian Sea
Sajjad Samiei
Persian Gulf and Susa Mariners
Abbas Alizadeh
A historical account of archaeological research on the islands of the Province of Hormozgan
Sepehr Zarei
The sea on the rocks. sailing in the rock art of Gobustan
Dario Sigari
The Achaemenids and the sea(s)m
Wouter F. M. Henkelman
National Museum of Iran, Tehran, Oct 20, 2014
Edited by Fereidoun Biglari and Kamyar Abdi
Edited by Marcel Otte, Fereidoun Biglari and Jacques Jaubert, BAR S1968 2009: /Proceedings of the XV World Congress UISPP (Lisbon, 4-9 September 2006) 28, , 2009
"Papers from the session Iran Palaeolithic presented at the XV UISPP World Congress, September 20... more "Papers from the session Iran Palaeolithic presented at the XV UISPP World Congress, September 2006.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction
Marcel Otte, Fereidoun Biglari, Jacques Jaubert
The Middle Palaeolithic occupation of Mar-Tarik, a new Zagros Mousterian site in Bisotun massif (Kermanshah, Iran)
J. Jaubert, F. Biglari, V. Mourre, L. Bruxelles, J.-G. Bordes, S. Shidrang, R. Naderi,M. Mashkour, B. Maureille, J.-B. Mallye, Y. Quinif, W. Rendu & V. Laroulandie
Test Excavations at the Middle Paleolithic Sites of Qaleh Bozi, Southwest of Central Iran. A Preliminary Report
Fereidoun Biglari, Mohsen Javeri, Marjan Mashkour, Mehdi Yazdi, Sonia Shidrang, Margareta Tengberg, Kamal Taheri, Jamshid Darvish,
Whither the Aurignacian in the Middle East? Assessing the Zagros Upper Paleolithic
Deborah I. Olszewski
A Typo-technological Study of an Upper Paleolithic Collection from Sefid-Ab, Central Iran
Sonia Shidrang
Origines du Paléolithique supérieur en Asie occidentale
Marcel Otte, Janusz K. Kozłowski
The Upper Paleolithic faunal remains from Yafteh cave (central Zagros), 2005 campaign. A preliminary study
Marjane Mashkour, Valentin Radu, Azadeh Mohaseb, Narges ashemi,Marcel Otte, Sonia Shidrang
La séquence baradostienne de Yafteh (Khorramabad, Lorestan, Iran)
Jean-Guillaume Bordes, Sonia Shidrang
Late Pleistocene Prehistory in Central Alborz: Preliminary Results of the French and Iranian Palaeoanthropological Programme 2006 on the excavation of Garm Roud 2 (Amol,Mazandaran)
Gilles Berillon, Asghar Asgari Khaneghah, Benoît Chevrier, Patrick Auguste,Valéry Zeitoun, Muhammad Beheshti, Sara Nochadi,Hamid Ebadollahi Chanzanagh, Fernando Ramirez Rozzi, Jean-Jacques Bahain, Pierre Antoine, Carole Vercoutère
Iranian Paleolithic sites on Travertine and Tufa Formations
Saman Heydari-Guran, Elham Ghasidian, Nicholas J. Conard
Late Palaeolithic cultural traditions in the Basht region
of the Southwestern Zagros of Iran
Elham Ghasidian, Ahmad Azadi, Saman Heydari-Guran, Nicholas J. Conard
The Open-air Late Paleolithic site of Bardia and the Paleolithic Occupation of the Qaleh Gusheh Sand Dunes, Esfahan Province, Iran
Nicholas J. Conard, Elham Ghasidian, Saman Heydari-Guran
Conclusion
Marcel Otte, Fereidoun Biglari, Jacques Jaubert"
Archaeologia, 2024
Located in the Zagros Mountains, not far from Kermanshah, in the country's west, the Wezmeh cave ... more Located in the Zagros Mountains, not far from Kermanshah, in the country's west, the Wezmeh cave has yielded many remains from the Upper Pleistocene and the Holocene. This archaeological documentation sheds new light on human occupations and fauna of this region for at least 70,000 years. Due to the importance of these discoveries, most of which were made in reworked sediments, the site underwent further excavations in 2019, resulting in the discovery of a large number of faunal remains along with Middle Paleolithic lithic artifacts and early Holocene archaeological remains.
Parseh Journal of Archaeological Studies, 2023
Iran holds great significance for the question of the eastward expansion of the Acheulean hominin... more Iran holds great significance for the question of the eastward expansion of the Acheulean hominins, as it is situated between the Arabian Peninsula and the Indian subcontinent, both of which have long and rich records of the Acheulean techno complex. Despite its strategic location, Iran has produced little evidence of the Acheulean techno complex. The only notable examples have been found in the western and northwestern regions of the country. The absence of Acheulean sites in southern Iran cannot be justified. Because this region, located in the northern parts of the Persian Gulf, was one of the main dispersal routes for Acheulean hominins towards the east. Here, we present a report on the discovery of a Lower Paleolithic locality near Dehtal, located in the northern region of the Persian Gulf. Additionally, we discuss the techno-typological characteristics of the lithics found in the area. Dehtal yielded a small, but characteristic lithic assemblage, which included a handaxe, a massive scraper, a large flake, and a flake core. The raw materials used are sandstone and fossiliferous limestone rock, which can be found as cobbles and boulders in secondary contexts on the northern slopes of Pare Lavar. In addition to these findings, two boulder cores with large removal scars were also documented in the area, indicating large flake production in this locality. The site offers a unique opportunity to study a lithic assemblage in a relatively unknown area within the distribution range of the Acheulean technocomplex.
ARCHÉOLOGIA, 2022
Situées au nord de l’Iran, les vastes montagnes de l’Elbourz fournissent un riche terrain pour l’... more Situées au nord de l’Iran, les vastes montagnes de l’Elbourz fournissent un riche terrain pour l’étude des interactions à long terme entre l’homme et son environnement. Par sa situation géographique, sur une voie reliant le plateau d’Azerbaïdjan et le Caucase à l’ouest et l’Asie centrale à l’est, cette région est également exceptionnelle pour comprendre les mouvements de populations et leurs caractéristiques culturelles depuis la Préhistoire.
A Collection of Archaeological Finds from Archaeological Excavations in 2019-2020, 18th Annual Symposium on the Iranian Archaeology, Edited by M. Mosalla, 2021
Wezmeh Cave is located 46 km southwest of Kermanshah, southeast of Islamabad-e Gharb, in the Qazi... more Wezmeh Cave is located 46 km southwest of Kermanshah, southeast of Islamabad-e Gharb, in the Qaziwand Mountain. Discovery of a large number of late Pleistocene faunal remains, a Neanderthal premolar tooth, as well as Early Holocene human remains and cultural materials (Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods) in this site yielded rich data that can shed new light on human occupations, and regional fauna in this part of the west-central Zagros. m Due to the importance of these finds, which mostly came from a disturbed context, the site was re-excavated in 2019. In the meantime, the surrounding region was surveyed. The aims of this season were to excavate undisturbed deposits at the rear of the cave, sieving disturbed deposits in front of the cave to collect faunal remains, potsherds, and other possible remains, to survey the surrounding region of the Wezmeh Cave within a 2 km radius of the site to identify other possible sites and the sources of stone raw material.
Scientific Reports 10, Article number: 8276 , 2020
The house mouse (Mus musculus) represents the extreme of globalization of invasive mammals. Howev... more The house mouse (Mus musculus) represents the extreme of globalization of invasive mammals. However, the timing and basis of its origin and early phases of dispersal remain poorly documented. To track its synanthropisation and subsequent invasive spread during the develoment of complex human societies, we analyzed 829 Mus specimens from 43 archaeological contexts in Southwestern Asia and Southeastern Europe, between 40,000 and 3,000 cal. BP, combining geometric morphometrics numerical taxonomy, ancient mitochondrial DNA and direct radiocarbon dating. We found that large late hunter-gatherer sedentary settlements in the Levant, c. 14,500 cal. BP, promoted the commensal behaviour of the house mouse, which probably led the commensal pathway to cat domestication. House mouse invasive spread was then fostered through the emergence of agriculture throughout the Near East 12,000 years ago. Stowaway transport of house mice to Cyprus can be inferred as early as 10,800 years ago. However, the house mouse invasion of Europe did not happen until the development of proto urbanism and exchange networks — 6,500 years ago in Eastern Europe and 4000 years ago in Southern Europe — which in turn may have driven the first human mediated dispersal of cats in Europe.
Paleorient 45-2, 2019
Since 2012, the French archaeological mission in the Governorate of Soulaimaniah has been explori... more Since 2012, the French archaeological mission in the Governorate of Soulaimaniah has been exploring the Rania and Peshdar plains in order to understand the evolution of settlement patterns in Northern Mesopotamia from the Palaeolithic to the present day. Newly acquired data from surveys combined with excavations at six prehistoric sites provide the first picture of human settlement patterns in this region from the Palaeolithic to the Chalcolithic. The development of these patterns reveals the presence of a local system that was deeply rooted in the wider Mesopotamian context but was also subject to influence from the Iranian plateau. Résumé. Depuis 2012, la mission archéologique française du Gouvernorat de Soulaimaniah explore les deux plaines de Peshdar et de Rania afin de comprendre l'évolution des systèmes d'habitat en Mésopotamie septentrionale dans la longue durée, du Paléolithique à aujourd'hui. Les données nouvellement acquises lors des prospections, ainsi que les informations issues de sondages effectués sur six sites préhistoriques permettent d'esquisser une première image des modèles d'implantation humaine dans la région, du Paléolithique jusqu'au Chalcolithique. L'évolution des modèles de peuplement montre une dynamique locale ancrée dans le système mésopotamien, mais influencée également par le plateau iranien.
Near Eastern Archaeology, 2019
The last two decades have seen a significant development in the field of rescue archaeology in Ir... more The last two decades have seen a significant development in the field of rescue archaeology in Iran due to the increasing legal protection of archaeological sites in areas that are threatened by rapid urban and rural development. The construction of numerous dams, used for irrigation, hydropower, and other purposes in different parts of the country forced the Iranian Center for Archaeological Research (ICAR) to take action and organize rescue projects. Except for a few projects in the Khuzestan and Fars regions (Wright 1979; Tsuneki and Zeidi 2008), these rescue projects have been focused mainly on excavation of mound sites, which is not surprising given that they are the most common site type in the alluvial plains of Iran. As a result, archaeological salvage projects have predominantly contributed information on late prehistoric and historic periods. The construction of Darian Dam on the Sirwan River in the Central Western Zagros, where archaeological deposits are better preserved in cave and rockshelter contexts, have allowed us to explore such sheltered sites in the framework of a dam salvage project.
Annales de Paléontologie, 2019
While bears (Ursidae) are well represented in Western Europe and the Caucasus during the Pleistoc... more While bears (Ursidae) are well represented in Western Europe and the Caucasus during the Pleistocene, bear remains from this period are rare in Southwest Asia. Only a limited number of sites, both natural and archaeological, have yielded evidence of brown bear (Ursus arctos Linnaeus, 1758). Skeletal remains for this species are often represented by a limited number of elements. The discovery of 192 remains identified as brown bear in Wezmeh Cave (Kermanshah Province, Iran) is exceptional. This paper presents a detailed description of the Wezmeh osteological assemblage, which confirms that U. arctos was already present in Zagros during the Upper Pleistocene.
Journal of Human Evolution, 2019
Wezmeh Cave, in the Kermanshah region of Central Western Zagros, Iran, produced a Late Pleistocen... more Wezmeh Cave, in the Kermanshah region of Central Western Zagros, Iran, produced a Late Pleistocene faunal assemblage rich in carnivorans along with a human right maxillary premolar, Wezmeh 1, an unerupted tooth from an 8 ± 2 year-old individual. Uranium-series analyses of the fauna by alpha spectrometry provided age estimates between 70 and 11 ka. Crown dimensions place the tooth specimen at the upper limits of Late Pleistocene human ranges of variation. Wezmeh 1 metameric position (most likely a P 3) remains uncertain and only its surficial morphology has been described so far. Accordingly, we used microfocus X-ray tomography (12.5 mm isotropic voxel size) to reassess the metameric position and taxonomic attribution of this specimen. We investigated its endostructural features and quantified crown tissue proportions. Topographic maps of enamel thickness (ET) distribution were also generated, and semilandmark-based geometric morphometric analyses of the enamel-dentine junction (EDJ) were performed. We compared Wezmeh 1 with unworn/slightly-moderately worn P 3 and P 4 of European Neanderthals, Middle Paleolithic modern humans from Qafzeh, an Upper Paleolithic premolar, and Holocene humans. The results confirm that Wezmeh 1 represents a P 3. Based on its internal confor-mation and especially EDJ shape, Wezmeh 1 aligns closely with Neanderthals and is distinct from the fossil and extant modern human pattern of our comparative samples. Wezmeh 1 is thus the first direct evidence of Neanderthal presence on the western margin of the Iranian Plateau.
Cell 177 , 2019
Horse domestication revolutionized warfare and accelerated travel, trade, and the geographic expa... more Horse domestication revolutionized warfare and accelerated travel, trade, and the geographic expansion of languages. Here, we present the largest DNA time series for a non-human organism to date,including genome-scale data from 149 ancient animals and 129 ancient genomes (R1-fold coverage),87 of which are new. This extensive dataset allows us to assess the modern legacy of past equestrian civilizations. We find that two extinct horse lineages existed during early domestication, one at the far western (Iberia) and the other at the far eastern range(Siberia) of Eurasia. None of these contributed significantly to modern diversity. We show that the influence of Persian-related horse lineages increased following the Islamic conquests in Europe and Asia.Multiple alleles associated with elite-racing, including at the MSTN ‘‘speed gene,’’ only rose in popularity within the last millennium. Finally, the development of modern breeding impacted genetic diversity more dramatically than the previous millennia of human management
Iran: Cuna de Civilizaciones, Pp.48-57, Museo Arqueológico de Alicante/ National Museum of Iran, 2019
The earliest evidence for prehistoric occupation of the Iranian Plateau dates to the Paleolithic ... more The earliest evidence for prehistoric occupation of the Iranian Plateau dates to the Paleolithic period. Stone tools and animal remains provide the bulk of the evidence for this period which start from the first appearance of human in Western Asia about 1.8 million years ago, to the end of the last Ice Age, approximately 12 thousand years ago. This period saw extreme cooling and recurrent glaciations (Ice Ages) that greatly affected early human communities who were highly dependent on available natural resources.
Iran with wide range of geographic variation and resources could support Paleolithic hunter-gatherer bands who were moving from place to place frequently to exploit resources as they become available in different areas. Archaeological remains of these early foragers have been found in a variety of places throughout the country including caves, rockshelters and open- air sites. Most of the known caves and shelters are situated in the Zagros, particularly in its western part, that are mainly developed in limestone. Archaeological excavation in these caves and shelters provide information about past human activities who used caves as temporary camps and left behind remains of their food, fireplace, remains of their stone tool manufacture and other daily activities remains.
Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports , 2018
The study of the hard animal matter assemblage from Ali Tappeh Cave, located on the southeastern ... more The study of the hard animal matter assemblage from Ali Tappeh Cave, located on the southeastern shores of the Caspian Sea, sheds new light on many unknown aspects of Epipalaeolithic ways of life in this region and expands our knowledge of techno-economic strategies using materials other than lithic artefacts. Fourteen artefacts from the collection conserved in the National Museum of Iran were selected for the present research. The osseous and shell artefacts were studied using technological and microwear approaches in order to reconstruct the different stages of the techno-economic scheme of raw material acquisition, transformation and utilization of the objects. The technical marks show the use of abrasion, scraping and grooving techniques in the debitage and shaping phases for the transformation of bone tools, shell tools and ornaments. The acquisition and transformation sequences of the shell artefacts were partially reconstructed based on the identification of the finished objects, blanks, waste or potential rough-outs and raw material blocks. The acquisition sequence primarily focused on the collection of dead shells as raw material. The potential source of these materials, the southeastern coast of the Caspian Sea, during the Epipalaeolithic was located about 40 km from the Ali Tappeh site. The choice of the blocks of raw materials only involves two species: Didacna and Cerastoderma. Three ways of raw material transformation were identified in this study: shell fracturing, probably connected to the production of discoid beads, direct shaping involving the regularization and perforation of elliptical raw material blocks for the production of pendants, direct shaping by perforating raw material blocks for the production of pendants. Suspension traces indicate their use as ornamental objects. Only one specimen in the whole assemblage was used directly, without prior transformation. The use-wear traces suggest the utilization of this shell tool for hide scraping. Similar processes are attested in some Epipalaeolithic sites in the Caucasus for the perforation of ornamental objects, suggesting analogous transformation methods for hard animal materials.
Replacement of Neanderthals by Modern Humans: Testing Evolutionary Models of Learning, Edited by Takeru Akazawa & Yoshihiro Nishiaki, RNMH Project Series, Tokyo, 2014
Recent research in a cluster of Middle Paleolithic cave and rockshelter sites near Isfahan, situa... more Recent research in a cluster of Middle Paleolithic cave and rockshelter sites near Isfahan, situated between Zagros Mountains and central desert of Iran, produced lithic assemblages showing features that are new to Iranian Middle Paleolithic industries. This paper first briefly describes some results of excavations carried out in this site
complex and then it presents analysis of obtained lithic assemblages from Qaleh Bozi Rockshelter that provide insights into the Middle Paleolithic lithic variability and human behavior in this transitional zone between high Zagros Mountains and Iranian central deserts.
We sequenced Early Neolithic genomes from the Zagros region of Iran (eastern Fertile Crescent), w... more We sequenced Early Neolithic genomes from the Zagros region of Iran (eastern Fertile Crescent), where some of the earliest evidence for farming is found, and identify a previously uncharacterized population
that is neither ancestral to the first European farmers nor has contributed significantly to the ancestry of modern Europeans. These people are estimated to have separated from Early Neolithic farmers in
Anatolia some 46-77,000 years ago and show affinities to modern day Pakistani and Afghan populations, but particularly to Iranian Zoroastrians. We conclude that multiple, genetically differentiated hunter-gatherer populations adopted farming in
SW-Asia, that components of pre-Neolithic population structure
were preserved as farming spread into neighboring regions, and
that the Zagros region was the cradle of eastward expansion.
An intensive survey of the caves and rockshelters of Kermanshah Province was planned by the Kerma... more An intensive survey of the caves and rockshelters of
Kermanshah Province was planned by the Kermanshah
provincial office of the Iranian Cultural Heritage,
Handicrafts and Tourism Organization (ICHTO) during
the late 2000s. The aim was to register the sites on Iran’s
National Register of Historic Places. These surveys,
which were initiated in 2009, provided additional
evidence for the potential of the region to yield a rich
Paleolithic record. Three teams of archaeologists
surveyed all districts of the province during 2009
and 2010 and over 300 caves and rockshelters were
identified and recorded, with archaeological material
dominated by the Upper Paleolithic and Epipaleolithic
periods, and fewer finds of the late prehistoric, historic
and Islamic periods. During these surveys a number
of previously identified sites were also re-examined.
In accordance with the research plan recommended by
the Kermanshah ICHTO, these surveys were limited to
caves and rockshelters only, and the open-air sites were
excluded. Despite all limitations, there is no doubt that
the results will facilitate planning for future protection
and excavations of the recorded sites, and help to a better
understanding of the human use of caves and rockshelters
in this part of the Zagros Mountains across a multitude of
periods. One of the districts surveyed is Salās-e Bābājāni
located in the northwest of Kermanshah Province. As far
as the archaeology of the Paleolithic period is concerned,
this region has largely remained unknown. The new
investigations resulted in identification of a significant
number of Paleolithic sites, which for the first time
yielded information for settlement patterns of the Upper
Paleolithic and Epipaleolithic hunter gatherer groups in
these lowland regions.
Here we present the results of a preliminary analysis of a small group of pointed tools from the ... more Here we present the results of a preliminary analysis of a small group of pointed tools from the Qaleh Bozi 3 rockshelter, a Middle Paleolithic site located in the foothills of the Zagros Range, in Central Iran. Three points from an excavated assemblage were selected for use-wear analysis. These artifacts were examined for evidence of use (fractures, edge damage, rounding, polish and striations), using a binocular and a metallographic microscope (low and high magnifications). Post-depositional modifications were rare on the artifacts examined, with only a bright patina being found on the bulb of percussion and parts of the ridges and edges. Some use-wear traces were found on two points. The first, a bifacial point, shows edge damage and polish which indicate it was used for butchery. Examination of the ridges on its proximal part revealed striations, rounding and polish on both faces, while the distal ridges showed no use-wear traces. This may be due to the proximal hafting of the point, although experimental studies would be needed to test this hypothesis. The second point showed scarring consistent with use as a cutting tool for soft to medium-hard material, occurring probably as a result of butchery. The presence of evidence of use-wear, together with the fine condition of Qaleh Bozi lithic assemblages makes them good candidates for an expanded use-wear analysis that may provide new information and insights into tool use and by extrapolation, the associated behaviors of hominins on the Iranian Central Plateau.
""The purpose of this paper is to review development of the Paleolithic research in Iran since th... more ""The purpose of this paper is to review development of the Paleolithic research in Iran since the late nineteenth. The presence of stone tools in Iran was noted as early as the late 1880s by de Morgan in the Alborz Mountains. During the first half of twentieth century de Morgan’s findings was followed by a number of sporadic discoveries in the southern Zagros Mountains, Baluchestan and the Tehran plain. The primary goal of the early discoverers was geological, anthropological and/or general archaeological surveys and the Paleolithic finds were side products of these activities.
The first serious attempt in searching Paleolithic sites was made by C. S. Coon after the Second World War. His excavations marked a turning point in the study of the Paleolithic past of the country. Paleolithic archaeological surveys and excavations intensified in the Zagros Mountains and to a lesser degree to other parts of the country during the 1960s and the 1970s until the Iranian revolution of 1978. These field works were exclusively undertaken by foreign researchers mainly from the United States, Britain, Denmark, and France. As a result, about 23 Middle Paleolithic, Upper Paleolithic and Epipaleolithic sites were briefly tested or excavated. Furthermore, near 350 sites were surveyed and recorded of which the largest number (ca. 200 sites) were found in the Fars Province.
Because of their educational background, which was based on the later prehistory and especially historic archaeology courses, the Iranian archaeologists had little interest and proper knowledge in Paleolithic archaeology. The Iranian revolution of 1978 brought all foreign missions to a halt which lasted until 2000. During this period, a number of new Paleolithic sites were recorded and published by the Iranian archaeologists of which the first discoveries include a Paleolithic open-air site near Semnan found by Kabiri and Amirlou in 1985, and a number of the Middle Paleolithic cave sites found by Biglari at Bisetun in 1986. In the same year, Amirlou published a review of the Iranian Paleolithic in the Journal of Iranian Archaeology and History which provided a general view of Iranian Paleolithic cultures for the Persian speaking archaeologists and students.
These early attempts were followed by excavation at an open air site near Damavand by E. Amirlou in 1990 which assigned to the Epipaleolithic period. A number of new Paleolithic finds were reported from the Zagros and other parts of Iran during the 1990s. These were the Paleolithic finds from the Kermanshah region by Biglari in 1992-1996, Open-air sites in the Qom region by Kaboli in 1993 and Shamirzadi in 1993-4. During the latter years Paleolithic sites became one of the objectives for general archaeological surveys in various parts of Iran, followed by extensive Paleolithic surveys in the late 1990s and test excavations in caves and rockshelters during the 2000s. Reports of new discoveries began to appear in local and international journals during the 1990s that followed by numerous papers, a monograph and an edited volume during the 2000s.
Recent field investigations greatly enlarged the Iranian Paleolithic archaeological record, not just from the Zagros, but also from the Alborz, central Iran, and the northern coasts of the Persian Gulf. These new discoveries and publications draw the attention of official members of the Iranian Cultural Heritage Organization to the importance and rich potential of Paleolithic research in Iran. This awareness led to the establishment of the Center for Paleolithic Research (later Paleolithic Department) at the National Museum of Iran in 2001.
""
This paper reviews recent developments in the Paleolithic archaeology in the Gilan region of sout... more This paper reviews recent developments in the Paleolithic archaeology in the Gilan region of south western Caspian Sea utilizing in formation accumulated over the last decade. The documented sites fall within the Early to the Late Paleolithic periods and include both sheltered (caves and rock shelters) and open-air sites. The Lower Paleolithic sites of Ganj Par and Darband produced archaeological record dating back at least to Middle Pleistocene. For the later Middle Paleolithic period, the only known site is Yarshalman, while late Paleolithic remains are known from at least four caves and rock shelters and two open-air sites. Gilan currently furnishes the most convincing evidence for the Acheulian industry in Iran and the earliest radiometric date for the presence of hominins in the Iranian Plateau.
Over the last three decades, fresh investigations on the paleolithic period by Iranian and joint ... more Over the last three decades, fresh investigations on the paleolithic period by Iranian and joint expeditions has produced a large number of research papers and field reports that offer much new information. The time seems ripe to publish a collection of papers on recent paleolithic research in Iran. A section in the inaugural issue of the Journal is therefore devoted to this topic.
While the following papers may not cover the full range of fresh paleolithic studies in Iran, they do offer a glimpse of what is currently taking place at various parts of the country. We hope to have more contributions on this topic in the forthcoming issues of the Journal in order to facilitatate access to the results of paleolithic research to archaeologists outside Iran. The present group of papers which draw upon both recent field research, and analyses of previously excavated collections, cover a wide geographical and chronological range, from northern coast of the Persian Gulf to the shore of the Caspian Sea, and from the Lower Paleolithic to the Epipaleolithic period. Most of the papers in this issue illustrate the efforts by the young generation of Iranian archaeologists who are actively engaged in studying paleolithic prehistory of their country.
We would welcome contributions from researchers working in Iran and neighboring regions for future issues of the Journal.
Fereidoun Biglari
- A Preliminary Report on the Investigations of the Lower
Paleolithic site of Khaleseh in the Khoram Dareh Valley,
Zanjan
Sajad Alibaigi, Kamal Aldin Niknami and Shokouh Khosravi
Despite the significant geographical and cultural features of Zanjan province, only limited archeological investigation have been carried out in the region. Thus we know very little about early settlement in this region. Until now, no Paleolithic site has been identified in the region. A recent archeological survey in the Abhar Rud basin has revealed the first evidence of Paleolithic occupation in Zanjan province at Khaleseh, south of Khoram Dareh on the southern bank of the Abhar River. During the initial survey and subsequent reinvestigation of an area of 400m2 a collection of 59 stone artifacts were collected and studied. The collection includes choppers, cores, chopper-cores, hammerstones, flakes, one heavy duty scraper and one cleaver-like item. Discovery of Khaleseh provides significant information about the existence of human ancestors in Pleistocene in the region.
- Preliminary Report on the Discovery of a late Lower
Paleolithic and Middle Paleolithic Site on the Island of Qeshm,
Persian Gulf
Abdolreza Dashtizadeh
In 2009 a survey was conducted by the author in the Qeshm Island that led to discovery of a lithic surface scatter at Bam-e Qeshm. The site yielded a small collection of 168 lithic artifacts that are defined by core-choppers and clear evidence of the use of the Levallois technique. The site is the first known Paleolithic remains on the Iranian islands. Sea level analysis implies that Hormuz Strait could have been used as a pathway for Lower Paleolithic communities during the Lower-Middle Pleistocene periods.
- Paléolithique moyen récent de la grotte de Qaleh Bozi 2
(Esfahan, Iran), premiers résultats de la campagne 2008
Jacques Jaubert, Fereidoun Biglari, Rémy Crassard, Marjan
Mashkour, William Rendu, et Sonia Shidrang
Located in southwest of central Iran, not far from Zagros range, the Middle Paleolithic sites of Qaleh Bozi produced a wealth of data that expands our knowledge beyond the lithic industries of the Middle Paleolithic of Central Iran. Here we report on new excavations in Qaleh Bozi 2, the richest cave in this site complex undertaken in 2008 that yielded new assemblages of lithic artifacts, well-preserved faunal remains and charcoal fragments from a stratified context. During this season we made two stratigraphic cuts of which the western one was opened earlier during 2005 excavations. A number of dosimeters were placed in the stratigraphic cuts at Qaleh Bozi 2 and Qaleh Bozi 3 in order to date the Middle Paleolithic occupations of the sites by means of TL and OSL methods. Two micromorphological samples also were taken from the sections, to clarify the nature and formation of the deposits and postdepositional events. A total number of 356 lithic artifacts were found during excavations, of which near 26% are retouched tools. The highest percentages of the tools are various types of side-scarper dominated by single forms, followed in quantity by points and notch-denticulates.
The mammalian remains can be divided into five categories: Large ungulates (Equids, Aurochs and Rhinoceros), Medium ungulates (Cervids and Suids), and Small ungulates (Goat, Sheep and Gazella). The anthropogenic activity can be detected on all the ungulate remains where important traces of impact, percussion and flaking together with burning and cutting mark the bones. The breakage patterns could be compatible with marrow extraction. The great majority of the identified remains belong to herbivores. The Equids are the dominant species within the large herbivores.
- Faunal remains from the Epi-Paleolithic site of Komishan
Cave and its dating, preliminary results
Marjan Mashkour, Jawana Chahoud and Ali Mahforouzi
The recent study of the faunal remains from the Komishan cave in Southeast of the Caspian Sea provided new insight to the final Pleistocene fauna of the region that could be compared to the previously known late Pleistocene faunal assemblages from Belt, Hotu and Ali Tappeh caves. This paper provides a comparative analysis of these remains as a sketch for the definition of faunal exploitation by the Epiplaeolithic populations of this region. The first plausible radiocarbon date indicates an occupation during the 12 millennium B.C. The fauna of Komishan Cave bears many similarities with the other adjacent sites, with the exploitation of gazelles, birds, and marine resources. A common Epiplaelolithic "faciés culturel" can therefore be outlined in the southeast of the Caspian.
- A Note on Recent Paleolithic Surveys in the Kuhdasht
Region, the Lorestan Province, Iran
Babak Moradi and Fatemeh Bakhtiari
Kuhdasht is one of the least explored regions in the central Zagros, especially for earlier periods of prehistory. Concerning Pleistocene occupation of the region, the only known site is the Houmian rockshelter excavated by McBurney in 1969 (Bewley 1985; McBurney 1969; McBurney 1970). Beyond this site, the region remains unexplored until recent surveys. In light of this absence of field work, the author undertook a series of systematic surveys in the region during 2006-2007 that resulted in discovery of 55 caves, rockshelters and open-air sites at various locations in the Kuhdasht region"
Here we present a summary report on the Paleolithic survey conducted in 2009-2010 in the Rawansar... more Here we present a summary report on the Paleolithic survey conducted in 2009-2010 in the Rawansar-Pawah regions of Hawraman, in northwest Kermanshah province, Iran.
Our knowledge of the Upper Paleolithic occupation of Iran, which is fragmentary, comes completel... more Our knowledge of the Upper Paleolithic occupation
of Iran, which is fragmentary, comes completely from
the Zagros region. These are some cave and rock shelter
sites in intermontane valleys of Kermanshah and
Khorramabad at Western Zagros and a few sites in the
Fars province at southern Zagros. The Upper Paleolithic
industries outside the Zagros, especially in the high
Iranian Plateau was completely unknown until recent
research at Sefid-Ab. This new site is a travertine mound
site close to the eastern slopes of Karkas Mountain at an
elevation of ca.1030m asl. During first season of
Paleolithic survey of Kashan region conducted by F.
Biglari and S. Heydari in 2003, Sefid Ab was surveyed
which yielded an early Upper Paleolithic assemblage
with high frequency of burins, carinated pieces and side-scrapers.
Iran with its scanty Acheulian evidence, considered by some researchers as a marginal region in t... more Iran with its scanty Acheulian evidence, considered by some researchers as a marginal region in the Acheulian boundaries. Discovery of a new Lower Paleolithic site with a rich Acheulian industry may help to have better understanding for the distribution of Acheulian in this part of Western Asia. The previous evidence of Acheulian in Iran consists of a few isolated finds of bifaces and two surface assemblages with core-choppers and bifaces, although some of these claimed bifaces seems to be Levallois cores. The new site of Ganj Par, at an elevation of about 235m asl, located on the 200-160 m terrace of the Sefid Rud at Rostamabad plain in the southern basin of the Caspian sea. The site discovered by the author and S. Heydari in 2002 and during three visits to the site in 2002-2003 more than 100 artifacts were collected in an
area of about 0.5 hectare. Almost half of the assemblage is made from limestone. Of other pieces, large proportions are made from quartzite and volcanic rocks such as tuff, andesite and basalt. The assemblage is composed of high frequencies of core-choppers, along with heavy-duty scrapers, bifaces, cores, and large
flakes. It yielded first known examples of cleaver in Lower Paleolithic archaeological context in Iran. The industry share technological similarities with early Acheulian assemblages in Africa and Levant, including the use of volcanic rocks as raw material from gravel sources, presence of heavy-duty scrapers and thick and crudely made bifaces that some of them have a form intermediate between chopper and biface. Due to the
paucity of documented lower Paleolithic evidence in Iran as a whole and the northern part of the country in particular, the significance of the Ganj par is very great.
■ ﺑﺎﺳﺘﺎﻥ ﻣﺮﺩﻡ ﻭ ﺷﻨﺎﺳﻲ ﺷﻨﺎﺳﻲ ﺍﻳﺮﺍﻥ ﺩﺭ ﻛﻮﭼﮕﺮ ﺍﻗﻮﺍﻡ ﻧﻤﺎﻳﺸﮕﺎﻩ ﺍﻓﺘﺘﺎﺡ ■ ﻧﻤﺎﻳﺶ ... more ■ ﺑﺎﺳﺘﺎﻥ ﻣﺮﺩﻡ ﻭ ﺷﻨﺎﺳﻲ ﺷﻨﺎﺳﻲ ﺍﻳﺮﺍﻥ ﺩﺭ ﻛﻮﭼﮕﺮ ﺍﻗﻮﺍﻡ ﻧﻤﺎﻳﺸﮕﺎﻩ ﺍﻓﺘﺘﺎﺡ ■ ﻧﻤﺎﻳﺶ 35 ﺍﻳﺮﺍﻥ ﻣﻠﻲ ﻣﻮﺯﻩ ﺑﺮﮔﺰﻳﺪﻩ ﺍﺛﺮ ﻋﻜﺲ ﻧﻤﺎﻳﺸﮕﺎﻩ ■ ﺍﻳﺮﺍﻥ ﺑﻮﻣﻲ ﻣﺮﺩﻣﺎﻥ ﻣﻮﺯﻩ ﺍﻳﺮﺍﻥ، ﻣﻠﻲ 16 ﻣﺎﻩ ﺑﻬﻤﻦ 1391 ﺳﺎﻋﺖ 9 ﺍﻟﻲ 30 / 12
Evidence for Two Hundred Thousand Years of Human-Animal Bonds in Iran