Palaeolithic Era in Iran
Encyclopedia
Events
Lower PaleolithicLower Paleolithic
The Lower Paleolithic is the earliest subdivision of the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age. It spans the time from around 2.5 million years ago when the first evidence of craft and use of stone tools by hominids appears in the current archaeological record, until around 300,000 years ago, spanning the...
Period
- c. 800,000-200,000 BCE: Prehistoric hominins lived in the Iranian plateauIranian plateauThe Iranian plateau, or Iranic plateau, is a geological formation in Southwest Asia. It is the part of the Eurasian Plate wedged between the Arabian and Indian plates, situated between the Zagros mountains to the west, the Caspian Sea and the Kopet Dag to the north, the Hormuz Strait and Persian...
specifically in Baqbaqu near KashafrudKashafrudKashafrud Basin is an archaeological site in Iran, known for the Lower Palaeolithic artifacts collected there; these are the oldest-known evidence for human occupation of Iran.,...
, Ganj ParGanj ParGanj Par is a Lower Paleolithic site located in the Gilan province in northern Iran.Located on an old western terrace of the Sefīd-Rūd River, the site was discovered by a team of archaeologists from the Center for Paleolithic Research of the National Museum of Iran in 2002.The Lower Paleolithic...
and Darband CaveDarband CaveDarband Cave is a Lower Paleolithic site in the Gilan Province in northern Iran, located on the north side of a deep tributary canyon of the Siahrud River, a tributary of the Sefīd-Rūd River that flows into the Caspian Sea....
s in Gilan, and Shiwatoo near Mahabad.
Middle Paleolithic
Middle Paleolithic
The Middle Paleolithic is the second subdivision of the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age as it is understood in Europe, Africa and Asia. The term Middle Stone Age is used as an equivalent or a synonym for the Middle Paleolithic in African archeology. The Middle Paleolithic and the Middle Stone Age...
Period
- c. 200,000-40,000 BCE: MousterianMousterianMousterian is a name given by archaeologists to a style of predominantly flint tools associated primarily with Homo neanderthalensis and dating to the Middle Paleolithic, the middle part of the Old Stone Age.-Naming:...
culture was present in both Zagros and central Iran during this period. according to archaeological evidence from Bisetun cave, Neandertal Man was present in the Zagros range during this period. The most well known sites of this period are Tamtameh cave in the provinces of AzerbaijanAzerbaijanAzerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
, Ghamari, Gar Arjeneh and Kunji in Luristan, Kiaram cave in GorganGorganGorgan Some east of Gorgan is the Golestan National Park. The city has a regional airport and several universities. Gorgan Airport was opened in September 2005.-Etymology:...
, Kobeh, Warwasi, Do-Ashkaft CaveDo-Ashkaft CaveThe Do-Ashkaft Cave, being the Middle Paleolithic cave site, is located at north of Kermanshah, near Taq-e Bostan. It is located about 1600 metres above the sea level and its entrance faces south, overlooking the national park of Kuhestan. The site was discovered by two Iranian researchers, F....
, Bisetun, Mar Tarik in KermanshahKermanshahKermanshah is a city in and the capital of Kermanshah Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 784,602, in 198,117 families.The overwhelming majority of Kermanshahi people are Shi'a Muslims...
, Niasar and Kaftar Khoun, and Qaleh BoziQaleh BoziQaleh Bozi is a complex of caves sites located about 25 km south-southwest of Isfahan, Iran; northeast of Dizicheh and north of Nekouabad and Hassanabad villages. The sites include two rockshelters and a cave located at altitudes between 1750 to 1810 m above sea level at 32° 24' N 51° 33' E...
in Esfahan.
Upper Paleolithic
Upper Paleolithic
The Upper Paleolithic is the third and last subdivision of the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age as it is understood in Europe, Africa and Asia. Very broadly it dates to between 40,000 and 10,000 years ago, roughly coinciding with the appearance of behavioral modernity and before the advent of...
Period
- c. 35000: Zagros mountains, in Pa Sangar, Arjeneh caves at Luristan, as well as Mar Ruz, Mar Gorgalan Sarab, Dar Mar, Gogel, at Hulailan valley,Ghar-i-Khar, Warwasi, Malaverd, and Warkaini caves in the vicinity of KermanshahKermanshahKermanshah is a city in and the capital of Kermanshah Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 784,602, in 198,117 families.The overwhelming majority of Kermanshahi people are Shi'a Muslims...
, Eshkaft Gavi near ShirazShirazShiraz may refer to:* Shiraz, Iran, a city in Iran* Shiraz County, an administrative subdivision of Iran* Vosketap, Armenia, formerly called ShirazPeople:* Hovhannes Shiraz, Armenian poet* Ara Shiraz, Armenian sculptor...
, Boof Cave near Dasht-e Rostam and Sefid-AbSefid-AbSefid-Ab is an archeological site in central Iran and is the first known evidence for Upper Paleolithic occupation of that region.The site is associated with an old spring which was an important water source for Upper Paleolithic people in the dry region of Kashan during the late Pleistocene...
near Kashan. Blade and bladelet tools charactristic of Upper Palaeolithic period were made and used.
- c. 13000-11000 BCE: Hunters and fishers appeared along the Zagros mountains such as Warwasi, Pa Sangar and Shalam,and central and northern Iran, specifically at ‘’Kamarband’’, ‘’Hotu’’, and ‘’Ali Tappeh’’ caves. Various bladelets made of flint were made and used in this period, which were both smaller and more sophisticated than those made in the earlier periods.
External links
- Iran Miras (in Persian)
- http://hjem.get2net.dk/paleolithic-archaeology/.htm news and publications about Iranian Paleolithic
- http://sites.google.com/site/fbiglari/publication Free download papers about recent Paleolithic studies in Iran