Approaching the Neolithization Processes in North-Western Iran

Abstract One of the most investigated aspects of prehistory in the Ancient Near East is undoubtedly the Neolithic period. The scientific community has often drawn attention to attempts to reconstruct the complex processes of Neolithization undergone by hunter-gatherer communities. Over the last few years, much has been done to reconstruct Neolithization processes on the Iranian plateau with particular attention to the Zagros Mountain region, probably rightly considered one of the points from which Neolithic cultures spread in the upper Mesopotamia area. This contribution aims to provide a comprehensive reassessment of the available data, with discussion of several crucial aspects of the Neolithic phases of north-western Iran. These critical issues are mostly connected to the absence of systematic investigations of Neolithic sites, and to a series of problems regarding the interpretation of the scarce information available. The paper therefore provides an overview of the current state of knowledge and proposals, together with and some new suggestions concerning these issues.