Archaeologists Return to Site of Iran’s Oldest Human Settlement

Date: 09 August 2025 - 21:47

News ID: ۱۴۲۳۷۸

TEHRAN -- The sixth season of archaeological excavations has commenced at Qaleh Kurd Cave, heralded as one of the oldest known human settlements in Iran.
Situated in the eponymous village east of Mount Sari, within the Hesār Vali’asr district of Āvaj County in Qazvin Province, this site continues to reshape understandings of early human habitation in the region.
Qaleh Kurd Cave has emerged as a pivotal Paleolithic site, opening new horizons for researchers investigating Iran’s prehistoric past. Notably, the discovery of a remarkably well-preserved child’s tooth dating back approximately 180,000 years during the fifth excavation season marked a breakthrough in the study of early human populations.
Under the leadership of archaeologists Hamed Vahdatinasab and Milad Hashemi Sarvandi—both faculty members of the Archaeology Department at Tarbiat Modares University—the current season aims to delve deeper into the stratigraphy and cultural layers that chronicle human activity during the Middle Paleolithic era.
The project is conducted under the authorization of the Iranian Research Institute for Cultural Heritage and Tourism, with financial support from the Qazvin Province’s Department of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts. Coordination with the Archaeological Research Center ensures that excavation methodologies and conservation practices meet the highest scientific standards.
Each season at Qaleh Kurd enriches the archaeological record, providing vital insights into early human adaptation, tool use, and environmental interaction on the Iranian Plateau. The ongoing work promises to contribute substantially to broader narratives of human evolution in Southwest Asia and to illuminate the complex mosaic of prehistoric cultures that once thrived in this crossroads of ancient migration.