Middle Paleolithic Lithic Industry from Qaleh Kurd Cave, Qazvin Province,Iran

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Department of Archaeology, Tarbiat Modares University,Tehran, Iran.

2 Department Homme et Environement, Paris, France.

3 Department of Archaeology, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

4 School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia & Geography Department, University of Manchester, UK.

5 Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

This paper focuses on the lithic finds from two seasons of excavations at Qaleh Kurd (QK), a cave site in
western Central Plateau. Through sedimentological studies, Holocene and Pleistocene deposits were identified
during the excavations. Analysis of sedimentary context and the spatial distribution of the faunal remains and
lithics suggested that the Pleistocene deposits at QK split into three sub-periods. Statistical analysis based on the
lithic techno-typology confirmed such suggestion with the lithics featuring Middle Paleolithic (MP) affinities in
all phases. The cross-sequence comparisons of QK’s lithics with the Zagros and Central Plateau MP assemblages
suggested stronger affinities of QK with the former. The overall characteristics of the QK tool kit consist of a
scraper-rich, flake-base typology, low frequency of denticulate and notch, the abundance of points, application
of Levallois technique, frequent signs of direct percussion, minimal preparation of platform, and the presence of
intense retouching and rejuvenating the edges.

Keywords

References

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Iranian Journal of Archaeological Studies
Volume 12, Issue 2
2022
Pages 1-14

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