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Image Title calendar2024-01-28

Zarzi was used by groups of hunter-gatherers between 18,000 and 14,000 years ago.

The cave here at Zarzi was used by groups of hunter-gatherers between 18,000 and 14,000 years ago. Zarzi Cave was excavated by Dorothy Garrod in 1928 and by Iraqi archaeologist Ghanim Wahida in 1971.

Image Title calendar2024-01-11

10,000 years ago one of the earliest villages on the Shahrizor Plain was built and lived in at the nearby settlement mound of Bestansur

10,000 years ago one of the earliest villages on the Shahrizor Plain was built and lived in at the nearby settlement mound of Bestansur.

Image Title calendar2024-01-11

Darband-i Rania Archaeological Project, with an area in excess of 70 ha a special interest in the first millennium BC

Darband-i Rania Archaeological Project the Darband-i Rania Archaeological Project was a project directed by Dr. John MacGinnis of the British Museum, carried out in co-operation with the General Director of Antiquities of Kurdistan, the Directorate of Antiquities and Heritage of Raparin and the Directorate of Antiquities and Heritage of Slemani.

Gird-î Qalrakh: a small mound in the North-eastern Shahrazor Plain

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Gird-î Qalrakh: a small mound in the North-eastern Shahrazor Plain 


The site of Gird-î Qalrakh is a small but steep settlement place in the North-eastern Shahrazor-Plain. It was excavated in three seasons (2016, 2017 and 2019), the fourth season 2023 has just started. The archaeological discovery will be carried out jointly by the Slemani Archaeological and Heritage Directorates, along with two universities (University of Erlangen and University of Frankfurt), in Gridi-Kazhaw and Qalrgh. It will continue for years.
The excavations have produced rather unexpected archaeological results, dating in particular to the Parthian-Hellenistic and Sasanian periods. Most unusual is the evidence for textile production at Qalrakh in association with finds of elaborate sealing at the top of the mound. The lower top levels have revealed some solid occupation in pre-Sasanian times, which is currently under investigation. Current research focusses on the Sasanian phase, in particular on the overall Sasanian-period settlement system in the Shahrazor Plain and in relationship to places in North-western Iran. 

Seal impression B-1158-2682b with jumping goat-fish.