Jungquartär und End-Mesolithikum in der Provinz Kerman (Iran)

Abstract. The main masses of detritus and silts („See-Löß"), deposited in water and filling the vast plateau-valleys of Kerman-area, seem to have been formed during semi-arid conditions till in older Holocene times. North of Buhabad and in the town of Kerman, areas which are now-days arid or nearly desertic, sediments of a brackisch lake and of shallow fresh-or oligohaline waters indicate that once precipitation and humidity were higher than doday. In Kerman they contain layers of marly peat and are thought to be formed during the Last Pluvial Period. They are rich in remains of fungi, ferns, and mollusc, some of which are land gastropods depending on humid environment. These are now extinct on the Iranian Plateau but living in the damp forest areas of the Hyrcanian countries. At Kuhbanan a microlithic industry was discovered. Regarding the artifact types this industry can be called an Upper Mesolithic. Similar to the Natufian of Palestine there are already plenty sickle blades with a bright patina derived from the silica in the grain stems. This seems to testify the stage of beginning agriculture in Iran in very old times or at least a harvesting of wild grain under climatic conditions suitable for its growth.