Deeper Insights Into the Lithic Raw Materials on the Iranian Plateau: West-Central Zagros Mountains

Abstract

Recent prehistoric research, which involved surveys and excavations in the Kermanshah Region, has focusedon understanding the nature and timing of the Middle Palaeolithic to Upper Palaeolithic transition. This research,conducted as part of the Human Evolution in the Zagros Mountains (HEZM) project, specifically targets theNawdarwan area. The Bawa Yawan Rockshelter was selected for further investigation. Over four excavation seasons(2016–2021), evidence of long-term occupation spanning from the Middle Palaeolithic to the Epipaleolithic (EPI)periods has been uncovered. These findings are embedded in five geological horizons, covering a time range from83,000 years ago to 13,400 years ago. These excavations have yielded more than 11,000 lithic artifacts. As one ofthe primary goals of the HEZM project which is conducting comprehensive studies on lithic raw materials in theWest-Central Zagros region, we have initiated a comprehensive research project centred on the Bawa Yawan siteand around it. This short paper presents our preliminary observations on the variety and extension of stone rawresources used in this key location in Zagros.