Discovering Kermanshah, Iran’s Hidden Paleolithic Treasure

Date: 08 December 2025 - 21:51

News ID: ۱۴۶۶۵۲

TEHRAN -- Over the past decades, extensive archaeological excavations across Kermanshah have uncovered extraordinary Paleolithic sites, yet much of this wealth remains hidden from public view.
Despite being among Iran’s richest provinces in early human remains, the discoveries have rarely been exhibited, leaving locals and visitors alike without a tangible connection to this deep past.
Traces of human presence in Kermanshah date back to the earliest inhabitants of the Iranian Plateau, earning the province a reputation as a veritable archaeological haven. To date, archaeologists have identified roughly 700 Paleolithic sites, caves, and shelters in the region—the highest number recorded in any Iranian province.
The oldest Paleolithic artifacts, dating back nearly one million years, were unearthed south of Kermanshah at the archaeological site known as Sang-e-Ma’dan. Equally significant are the discoveries associated with Neanderthals, whose remains from the Middle Paleolithic period have been found across around 200 sites in the province.
Over the past decades, nationwide excavations have revealed four Neanderthal remains, three of which come from Kermanshah: a six-year-old child’s tooth from Bawa Yawan Rock Shelter, a tooth from Wezmeh Cave, and skeletal fragments from Bisitun Cave.
Kona Khers Cave, perched at 1,900 meters above sea level, is the highest known Neanderthal habitation site in Iran, where recent findings have offered intriguing insights into Neanderthal life.
Despite these remarkable discoveries—including stone tools, skeletal remains, and evidence of ancient lifeways—Kermanshah has lacked a dedicated Paleolithic museum. Existing exhibitions, such as the small display within the historic Takyeh Moaven-ol-Molk, offer only a fraction of the province’s archaeological wealth and fail to fully convey the daily life of its Paleolithic inhabitants.
Local residents have yet to see the Neanderthal teeth from Bawa Yawan and Wezmeh caves firsthand; these artifacts are currently held elsewhere, far from the sites of their discovery. The absence of a major museum highlights a critical gap in public engagement with Kermanshah’s prehistory.
According to Alireza Barshahi, head of the Museums and Movable Heritage Group at the province’s Cultural Heritage Department, plans are underway to address this. The forthcoming Regional Museum of Kermanshah will dedicate a section to Paleolithic discoveries, including Neanderthal remains and the province’s archaeological excavations. The exhibition will also feature life-sized models and dioramas to illustrate Neanderthal daily life, hunting practices, and diets.