Tappeh Qazanchi, an example of a pioneering farming community during the Pre-Pottery Neolithic in Central Zagros (Iran). In session: Uses and misuses of landscapes and resources: New perspectives on pioneer farming societies in the world.
Résumé
Recent archaeological investigations in the North West of Kermanshah have highlighted the importance of this region for documenting initial stages of the Neolithisation of Central Zagros. During winter 2019 we excavated Tappeh Qazānchi, near Kermanshah. The site was first reported by Robert J. Braidwood during the 60’s. It is unfortunately now heavily damaged by agricultural activities. Tappeh Qazānchi is a 2 hectares mound of 13 meters height, 160 meters long and 160 meters wide. Our preliminary surface collection on the site during 2012 indicated a multi-period occupation and the presence of lithic tools characteristic of the Early Neolithic period. The 2019 sounding confirmed these preliminary observations. We opened three trenches and found a Bronze Age deposit on the top of the mound and pre-pottery Neolithic ashy layers from eight to thirteen meters lower down. The Neolithic occupation of Tappeh Qazānchi is comparable to Chogha Golan, Sheikhi Abad and East Chia Sabz on the basis of radiocarbon dating and lithic analyses. This presentation will summarise the results of chronological, bioarchaeological, lithic and micromorphological studies with a particular emphasis on archaeobotanical, archaeozoological and micromorphologial results.