Journal of Archaeological Studies

Early villages and prehistoric sites in the Abharroud Basin, North West of Iranian central plateau

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Shokouh Khosravi 1
Hamid Khatib Shahidi 2
Hamed Vahdatinasab 2
Sajjad Alibaigi 3
Abolfazl Aali 4

1 PH. D Candidate, Department of Archaeology, University of Tarbiat Modares

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Archaeology, University of Tarbiat Modares

3 PH. D Candidate, Department of Archaeology, University of Tehran

4 Iranian CHTO, Zanjan

https://doi.org/10.22059/jarcs.2012.35379
Abstract
The Abharroud basin is an important region in the archeological studies of northwestern outskirts of the central plateau, and west and northwest of Iran. Considering its environmental capabilities and geographical location, studying the region can leads us to a better understanding of regional relations and also inter-regional interaction between the mentioned cultural-geographical regions. However, archeological studies in the region have not been taken into consideration satisfactorily and we know very little about the early settlements and their nature in the region. The archeological survey in the Abharroud basin was carried out in two seasons in 2003 and 2005. During the survey 257 archeological sites and monuments were discovered, dating from lower Paleolithic to recent ages. Of these, 34 sites contained prehistoric remains. The study results indicate that most of the prehistoric settlements belong to the Chalcolithic period and, in contrary, the least show the Paleolithic and Neolithic evidence. Most of the identified sites are the remains of villages scattered in different areas of the basin, on the plain and also impassable heights. A preliminary study on the surface finds of these settlements suggests a close cultural relation between these settlements and the prehistoric cultures of the central plateau, west and northwest of Iran, from Neolithic to Bronze Age.
 
 
 
 

Keywords

Archaeological Survey
Abharroud Basin
Neolithic
Bronze Age
Iranian Central Plateau

  • Receive Date 27 July 2010
  • Revise Date 06 October 2013
  • Accept Date 14 December 2011

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