Investigating the Neolithic of west Iran

The Central Zagros region of west Iran, part of the Fertile Crescent, is of great importance in one of the major episodes of transformation in human history and environment after the end of the Ice Age 12,000 years ago: the change from mobile hunting and gathering to more sedentary agriculture and animal husbandry. The Central Zagros is one of the key areas in which the wild plants and animals that were later domesticated, occurred naturally.

The aim of the Central Zagros Archaeological Project is to investigate the nature of neolithisation in this key zone during the Early Holocene, by fieldwork and research at two sites in the higher and lower Zagros, Sheikh-e Abad and Jani, 90 km apart. The importance of these sites lies in their very early date and long occupation, spanning ~9,800-7,600 cal BC, and their location on the most important route-way through the Zagros mountains, later the Silk Road, enabling study of movements of people, animals, materials, practices and ideas during this critical period of change. The sites were identified during survey by Dr Y. Mohammadifar, Dr A. Motarjem and Dr K. Abdi, and are part of a cluster of important Neolithic sites in this region, including Asiab, Sarab, Ganj Dareh, and Abdul Hosein. The Central Zagros Project is a joint UK-Iran Research Project.

Map to show the location of Sheikh-e Abad and Jani