UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Introduction:

The high mountains of the Bakhtiari country were largely left out of the archeological equation despite their proximity to the heartland of Mesopotamian and Elamite civilization. Work in the region indicated the long settlement history of these mountains. The region was utilized probably as early as the Middle Paleolithic and certainly by the Upper/Epi-paleolithic. The region experienced a unique Neolithic experience, exemplified by finds at Qal'e Rostam and other Neolithic sites in the region. Villages become increasingly common during the Early Chalcolithic, reaching a high point during the Middle Chalcolithic. Especially exciting is evidence of "colonies" on one of the major routes through the mountains with ties to communities from the Central Plateau and the Khuzistan lowlands (specifically Sharak and S 17). Much less common is Iron Age material, although the cache from Gandomkar is especially exciting. 

Iron Age Materials from Gandomkar Tomb Group

A cache of objects, including a series of vessels and metal objects were stored in the Shahr-e Kord Gendarmerie station in 1978. These objects were reportedly recently found in a grave in Gandomkar. I was allowed to photograph and draw the objects. Unfortunately, I was unable to gain access to a stamp seal? with a gazelle or goat's head handle, which I was able to view only briefly. This cache manifests very close similarities to so-called Luristan grave materials, which are common in the Pish-e Kuh, but are rarely found in the Bakhtiari area section of Luristan (published in Zagarell 1982). Suggested date Iron Age III. 
This small vessel (ca. 9.5cm) was one of the objects reportedly discovered in a grave cache in the vicinity of Gandomkar. This vessel is grey in paste and surface color.

A red-ochre slipped and black-painted vessel from the Gandomkar cache.

Small finds from the Gandomkar cache. The objects include a section of a bronze bowl and a braclet or foot ring. Other objects not pictured included silver and bronze vessels, silver beads, iron swords and arrow heads. 

Continue to Bakhtiari Archaeological Finds II 

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Send comments and suggestions to zagarell@wmich.edu