Neolithic Analysis of the Southern High Zagros: Khanmirza Basin (Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari)

This study examines the process of Neolithisation in the southern High Zagros, with particular focus on the Khanmirza basin in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province, Iran. Despite extensive research in the northern and central Zagros, the southern sector has remained comparatively underexplored, resulting in significant gaps in our understanding of early settlement development in this mountainous region. Through systematic archaeological survey and settlement pattern analysis conducted over two field seasons, twenty Neolithic sites were identified, including several yielding both lithic and ceramic assemblages.
The results indicate a gradual and locally adaptive transition from Epipalaeolithic lifeways to Neolithic subsistence strategies. Evidence from Qal'eh Rostam and other surveyed sites suggests seasonal occupation patterns, persistence of geometric microlithic traditions, and the emergence of coarse, plant-tempered pottery associated with early Neolithic phases. The spatial distribution of sites across plains, valleys, and upland zones points to a flexible settlement system likely incorporating vertical mobility and mixed subsistence practices, including pastoralism, limited cultivation, and continued hunting.
The findings highlight the High Zagros as an active and regionally distinctive participant in the broader Neolithic transformation of Southwest Asia. The study underscores the need for targeted excavations and absolute dating programs to refine the chronological and cultural framework of Neolithisation in southern Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari.