Palaeolithic Era in Iran

[edit] Events

c. 800,000-200,000 BCE: Prehistoric hominins lived in the Iranian plateau specifically in Baqbaqo near Kashafrud, Ganj Par and Darband Cave in Gilan, and Shiwatoo near Mahabad.

c. 200,000-40,000 BCE: Mousterian 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 Azerbaijan, Ghamari, Gar Arjeneh and Kunji in Luristan, Kiaram cave in Gorgan, Kobeh, Warwasi, Do-Ashkaft, Bisetun, Mar Tarik in Kermanshah, Niasar and Kaftar Khoun, and Qaleh Bozi in Esfahan.

c. 35000 Zagros mountains, in Pasangar, Arjaneh 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 Kermanshah, Eshkaft Gavi near Shiraz, and Sefid-Ab 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,and central and northern Iran, specifically at ‘’Kamarband’’, ‘’Hotu’’, ‘’Ali Tappeh’’ caves, , Various bladelets made of flint was made and used in this period, which were both smaller and more sophisticated than those made in the earlier periods.