Le site paléolithique de plein air de Mirak, en bordure nord du désert central iranien (Semnan, Iran) : preuves d’occupations humaines successives pendant le Pléistocène supérieur

Le Nord du Désert central iranien fournit des preuves de présence humaine à la fin du Pléistocène. Mirak constitue l’une des plus grandes localités paléolithiques de plein air de la région, avec huit monticules naturels. En 2015, le programme conjoint franco-iranien a initié la fouille et l’étude pluridisciplinaire des dépôts et du matériel archéologique de Mirak 8. Les premiers résultats de trois saisons de fouilles indiquent la présence d’au moins trois phases successives d’occupation humaine pendant le MIS3 : un niveau supérieur d’affinités Paléolithique supérieur, avec un âge maximum de 28 ka, un niveau inférieur d’affinités Paléolithique moyen, autour de 47 ka, et un niveau intermédiaire avec des caractéristiques mixtes, vu comme un Paléolithique intermédiaire, daté entre 28 ± 2 et 38 ± 2 ka. À l’époque où les cultures du Paléolithique supérieur se sont différenciées dans le Zagros, des cultures avec des affinités Paléolithique moyen évidentes ont persisté juste à l’Est du Zagros, sur le pourtour nord du Plateau central iranien.The northern edge of the Iranian Central Desert has provided valuable evidence of terminal Pleistocene human settlements. Mirak constitutes one of the largest open-air lithic scatters in the region, consisting of eight natural mounds. Fieldwork was initiated in 2015 by the joint Iranian-French program at Mirak 8. Preliminary results have demonstrated at least three successive phases of human occupation during the MIS3: an upper layer with clear Upper Paleolithic affinities and a maximum age of 28 ky, a lower layer with clear Middle Paleolithic affinities that dates around 47 ky, and an intermediate layer with mixed characteristics that can be seen as an intermediate Paleolithic phase which dates between 28 ± 2 and 38 ± 2 ky. At the time when Upper Paleolithic cultures originated in the Zagros Mountains, cultures with clear Middle Paleolithic affinities persisted nearby along the northern edge of the Iranian Central Plateau.</p

New data on the Moghanak prehistoric site (Tehran province, Iran)

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Tuf calcaire et séquence alluviale en contexte tectonique actif : la formation de Baliran (Province du Mazandaran, Iran)

Dans la vallée de la Garm Roud, près du village de Baliran, sur les contreforts nord du massif de l’Alborz (Province duMazandaran, Iran), un profil de terrasse montre sur plus de 15 m d’épaisseur une séquence fluviatile terminée par un tuf calcaire de fond de vallée. Au sein de la sédimentation alluviale limoneuse basale, un petit horizon de sol organique de fond de vallée a livré un niveau archéologique qui constituerait la première évidence d’occupation paléolithique de plein air dans la région (23920 ± 160 14C / 28486 ± 190 cal. BP). La partie supérieure de cette séquence fluviatile basale est ensuite affectée par un important épisode de pédogenèse (sol brun) contemporain d’une première période d’incision et de rabattement du plan d’eau (± 3 m). Cet ensemble est ensuite recouvert par une formation de tufs calcaires de plaine alluviale (5 m), à stratification horizontale, débutant par un fin niveau organique daté de 12100 cal. BP. Finalement, l’ensemble est totalement incisé par la rivière au cours de l’Holocène (plus de 17 m d’incision par rapport au sommet du tuf). Ce processus débouche sur la formation d’une terrasse visible sur environ 1,5 km en rive droite de la vallée. Dans un contexte tectonique très actif, cette phase d’incision majeure est interprétée comme le résultat d’une période de surrection rapide liée à l’activité de la faille chevauchante de Khazar cartographiée à quelques kilomètres au nord du site.Within the Garm Roud valley, close to the village of Baliran, on the northern Alborz foot-hills (Mazandaran Province, Iran), a terrace profile shows a thick (> 15 m) fluvial sequence ending with a calcareous alluvial valley tufa. Within the basal loamy alluvial deposits, an organic soil horizon, developed in valley bottom environment, delivered an archaeological level which would constitute the first open air Palaeolithic evidence in the area (23920 ± 160 14C / 28486 ± 190 cal. BP). The upper part of these alluvial sediments is affected by a well developed pedological horizon (brown soil) contemporaneous of a first episode of water table lowering and river incision. This soil is then covered by a thick (5 m) calcareous tufa formation indicative of an alluvial plain environment. It begins with a thin organic layer dated ca. 12 100 cal. BP. Both units are finally totally incised by the river during the Holocene (about 17 m of incision when compared to the surface of the tufa). This process leads to the formation of a large terrace developed 1.5 km long on the right bank of the river. In a very active tectonic context, the major incision which leads to the formation of this terrace during the Holocene is interpreted as the result of the uplift related to the activity of the Khazar reverse fault mapped a few kilometres north of the site

Moghanak, Otchounak, Garm Roud 2 : nouveaux assemblages paléolithiques dans le Nord de l'Iran. Caractérisations typo-technologiques et attributions chrono-culturelles.

Les prospections réalisées par le Programme Paléoanthropologique Franco-Iranien (FIPP) dans les provinces de Téhéran et du Mazandaran (Nord de l'Iran), zone quasiment vierge de découvertes paléolithiques, ont conduit, en 2005, à la découverte de trois localités de plein air en contexte alluvial. Nous présentons ici les résultats de l'analyse typo-technologique des assemblages lithiques. Les localités de Moghanak et Otchounak ont livré 59 pièces ramassées en surface, attribuables à du Moustérien ou de l'anté-Moustérien. Ces assemblages ont montré la présence de conceptions de technicité différente, mais généralement peu élaborées. Le site de Garm Roud 2 est en contexte stratigraphique et daté de 28 486 ± 190 cal. BP. Les 113 artefacts découverts présentent clairement une emphase sur le débitage lamellaire. Les comparaisons permettent de rapprocher l'ensemble du Baradostien, plus particulièrement du Baradostien récent

Moghanak, Otchounak, Garm Roud 2 : nouveaux assemblages paléolithiques dans le Nord de l’Iran. Premières caractérisations typo-technologiques et attributions chrono-culturelles

Abstract: The French-Iranian Paleoanthropological Project (FIPP) conducted in 2005 a survey in the provinces of Teheran and Mazandaran (Northern Iran), which are almost virgin zone of paleolithic discoveries. The FIPP discovered three open-air localities in an alluvial context. The Moghanak and Otchounak localities delivered 59 artifacts collected on surface, attributed to Mousterian or ante-Mousterian. These assemblages showed conceptions of different technical natures, generally not very elaborated. The site of Garm Roud 2 is a good stratigraphic framework and is dated to 28,486 ± 190 cal. BP. The 113 artefacts available clearly present an emphasis on bladelet debitage. Comparisons make possible to bring the assemblage closer to Baradostian, more particularly to Late Baradostian.Abstract: The French-Iranian Paleoanthropological Project (FIPP) conducted in 2005 a survey in the provinces of Teheran and Mazandaran (Northern Iran), which are almost virgin zone of paleolithic discoveries. The FIPP discovered three open-air localities in an alluvial context. The Moghanak and Otchounak localities delivered 59 artifacts collected on surface, attributed to Mousterian or ante-Mousterian. These assemblages showed conceptions of different technical natures, generally not very elaborated. The site of Garm Roud 2 is a good stratigraphic framework and is dated to 28,486 ± 190 cal. BP. The 113 artefacts available clearly present an emphasis on bladelet debitage. Comparisons make possible to bring the assemblage closer to Baradostian, more particularly to Late Baradostian.Chevrier B., Berillon Gilles, Asgari Khaneghah Asghar, Antoine Pierre, Bahain Jean-Jacques, Zeitoun Valéry. Moghanak, Otchounak, Garm Roud 2 : nouveaux assemblages paléolithiques dans le Nord de l’Iran. Premières caractérisations typo-technologiques et attributions chrono-culturelles. In: Paléorient, 2006, vol. 32, n°2. pp. 59-79

Techno−Typologie des assemblages lithiques. Garm Roud 2, un site de plein air au paléolithique supérieur (Baliran, Amol, Mazandarn).

International audienceIntroduction - Iranian plateau with its outstanding geographical and climatic conditions has been considered a key region in the study of Pleistocene human societies. So far numerous Paleolithic sites have been discovered throughout Iran; however, our knowledge concerning the Upper Paleolithic occupations was limited to Zagros region. The Upper Paleolithic occupations of northern Alborz Mountains and southern Caspian Sea has been remained unknown. In this context, the discovery of the open air site of Garmrud 2 by the French-Iranian Paleoanthropological Project (FIPP) in 2005 was a major breakthrough in case of filling the mentioned gaps between older Paleolithic materials and those of Mesolithic from the southeastern of the Caspian Sea (e.g., Komishan, Huto, Kamarband, Al Tepe). Materilas and Methods The southeastern of the Caspian Sea is a strategic region for those interested in prehistoric human movements and dispersions. This regain is one of the proposed migratory corridors for prehistoric societies. The studied area is located between two geographical barriers: in the north is located the Caspian Sea and in the south of the Alborz Mountains. Between these barriers, there are Mazandaran and Gilan Plains with high rate of precipitations and numerous permanent and seasonal rivers. Such geographical conditions have made these plains so fertile, and attracted human societies since prehistoric times. Even today this area represents one of the densest human populations in Iran.Results and Discussion - First, it was Carlton S. Coon who conducted several field missions at the southeastern of the Caspian Sea leading to the discovery and excavation of two famous caves of Huto and Kamarband (Coon, 1951, 1952). Later Charles McBurney from University of Cambridge followed Coon’s footsteps and excavated sites of Key-Aram I and Al Tepe (Ali Tepe). In most recent years, another Mesolithic site (Komishan Cave) was excavated in the region (Vahdati Nasab et al., 2011). The astonishing point conserving these sites chronology is the fact that none belonged to the Upper Paleolithic (Key-Aram I consist of Middle Paleolithic and Mousterian materials and the rest was assigned to the Mesolithic period). For some reasons it was believed that the Upper Paleolithic is the lost period in the north and northeastern of Alborz. Similar scenarios have been observed in Turkmenistan and Tajikistan, which provoked some researchers to claim due to some climatic obstacles of these geographical regions were abandoned during the Upper Paleolithic period. That is why the discovery of a well dated site of Garm Rud 2 could shed light on some of the key aspects of this enigma. This site, which is situated at the river cut of Garm Rud River nearby the Baliran village in Amol, has witnessed three consecutive excavations producing immense amount of data in form of lithic, bones, and shells. The absolute calibrated dating of 33878±3300 plus dominance of balde/ bladelet knapping technologies leave no room for any doubt to associate Garm Rud 2 with the Upper Paleolithic period. Evidence of fauna remains in close association with lithic materials indicates that Garm Rud 2 was a butchering station, which was occupied for a brief time period. Lithic assemblages of the first excavation season were the subject of this research. In this regard, only 2.6% of the assemblage belongs to core/core fragments. Such fact plus low quantity of cortical pieces indicate that the initial preparation stages were taken place somewhere outside of the site. Bladelets are in largest quantity followed by flakes with no secondary edge work and blades. Considerable number of flake debitage implies that they have been byproducts of bladelet/blade production sequences.Conclusion - In case of comparative studies, Garm Rud 2 represents close affinities with the two Upper Paleolithic open air sites of Sefid-Ab and Delazian both located at the southern hills of Alborz Mountains. At the same time it deviates significantly from the Upper Paleolithic cave site of Yafteh in Zagros. Prior to apply any stylistic explanations, the geomorphological formations of these sites must be taken into considerations. In addition, the site formation and usage of the sites must be taken into account. Yafteh is a Karstic cave in Zagros, which based on its strategic location and abundance number of lithic/fauna materials had been a base camp during the beginning of the Upper Paleolithic period. On the other hand, as it was mentioned earlier Garm Rud 2 was a butchering station with short occupation period; therefore, comparing lithic techno-typologies of Yafteh and Garm Rud 2 might not provide comprehensive results. Up until present Garm Rud 2 is the only well dated Upper Paleolithic settlement at the north of Iranian plateau

Garm Roud 2, Iran : bladelet production and cultural features of a key Upper Palaeolithic site south of the Caspian Sea

International audienceFor more than twenty years, Iran has focused a great deal of research on the emergence and development of Upper Palaeolithic industries. South of the Caspian Sea, the site of Garm Roud 2, dated to 33878 ± 3300 Cal BP, is one of the few sites, with Mirak, to have yielded stratified evidence of occupation during this period. This paper presents the results of the typo-technological analysis of the lithic assemblage collected during the 2006 to 2008 excavation campaigns. The focus here is on a production of straight and twisted bladelets. Very few similarities have appeared between this assemblage and those from sites in the Zagros and the rest of Iran, which are generally older (about 35 to 40 000 Cal BP). Garm Roud 2 yields original evidence and may be seen as a key site for understanding Upper Palaeolithic technocomplexes and the development of bladelet production in this area