Journal of Archaeological Studies

Typo-technological Classification of the Chipped Stone Assemblages of Hotu Cave from the Mesolithic to the Transitional Chalcolithic: Reflections on Local Raw Material Procurement in the Caspian Sea Littoral Ecozone

Mozhgan Jayez; Mojtaba Safari; Sana Ghasemi

Volume 16, Issue 1 , February 2024, , Pages 53-86

https://doi.org/10.22059/jarcs.2023.357605.143194

Abstract

Prehistoric investigations in the southeastern region of the Caspian Sea commenced more than a century ago, resulting in the identification of several prominent archaeological sites, ... Read More Prehistoric investigations in the southeastern region of the Caspian Sea commenced more than a century ago, resulting in the identification of several prominent archaeological sites, notably the caves of Kamarband, Hotu, Komishan, and Altappeh. These caves have become well-known for their rich archaeological deposits, spanning from approximately 16,000 years ago in the Mesolithic period to the Historic period. Hotu Cave, situated on a cliff along the northern slope of the Alborz mountain range, gained significant attention following its initial excavation in the 1950s by Carleton S. Coon. Excavations conducted over two field seasons lasting nine weeks each revealed valuable insights into the region's prehistoric occupation. In 2021, a team led by Hasan Fazeli from the University of Tehran undertook the re-excavation of Hotu Cave, unearthing 124 archaeological contexts spanning from the Mesolithic to the Historic period. Among the notable findings were 1,539 chipped stone artifacts, predominantly crafted from locally sourced Behshahr chert. The chipped stone assemblage from Hotu Cave exhibits distinctive characteristics indicative of different periods, including pressure removal technique evident in blade-lets and sickle trapezoids dating back to the Neolithic period, alongside ubiquitous scrapers and notched-denticulated tools found across all layers. Technological shifts within the chipped stone assemblage, observed during the recent excavations, reflect changes in subsistence patterns inferred from archaeozoological research on animal remains. However, the interpretation of these technological and subsistence changes is nuanced, as it remains unclear whether they occurred locally and gradually or resulted from external influences, such as demographic movements or the diffusion of ideas from neighboring regions. The chronological gap between the Mesolithic and Neolithic periods complicates the determination of the precise mechanisms driving these transformations solely based on material evidence from Hotu Cave. Further interdisciplinary research integrating archaeological, chronological, and environmental data is warranted to elucidate the dynamics of cultural change in this region during the transition from the Mesolithic to the Neolithic period

One, Two, and Three: How to Count the Real Number of Archaeological Chipped Stones? An Experimental Investigation on the Counting Methods of Fragmentary Chipped Stones

Mozhgan Jayez; Hamed Vahdati Nasab

Volume 7, Issue 1 , March 2015, , Pages 47-63

https://doi.org/10.22059/jarcs.2015.56670

Abstract

Chipped stones, like many other archaeological artifacts, change in their original context. One of the most important changes is breakage. Although it is clear that chipped stones which ... Read More

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Author = Jayez, Mozhgan

Typo-technological Classification of the Chipped Stone Assemblages of Hotu Cave from the Mesolithic to the Transitional Chalcolithic: Reflections on Local Raw Material Procurement in the Caspian Sea Littoral Ecozone

Abstract

One, Two, and Three: How to Count the Real Number of Archaeological Chipped Stones? An Experimental Investigation on the Counting Methods of Fragmentary Chipped Stones

Abstract