Discovery of Paleolithic Artifacts in Northern Persian Gulf
WANA (Oct 27) – Archaeologists have uncovered evidence of early human settlement at the Deh Tall (Dehtal) Paleolithic site in Bastak County, Hormozgan Province, southern Iran. Recent excavations confirm that this area was repeatedly used by Paleolithic humans more than 200,000 years ago.
Sepehr Zarei, head of the archaeological team and deputy director of the Hormozgan Cultural Heritage Department, announced that the study of the Deh Tall site was carried out in two phases — from July to September and from October to November 2025 — including systematic field surveys, detailed documentation, and the recording of archaeological evidence from the Paleolithic period.
According to Zarei, the Deh Tall site is best known for its rich collection of rock engravings carved onto large limestone boulders. These petroglyphs, created by artists from the late prehistoric and historic periods, depict a wide variety of human and animal figures, abstract motifs, and inscriptions in Middle Persian and later scripts.
He noted that the first preliminary survey in 2010 led to the discovery of a large scatter of stone tools stretching from the southern outskirts of the village to the foothills of Mount Perlavor. Covering nearly 400 hectares in the Goudeh region of central Bastak County—about 80 kilometers north of the Persian Gulf coast—the site lies across the extensive alluvial fans of Mount Perlavor, which span at least four kilometers in width.
Discovery of Paleolithic Artifacts in Northern Persian Gulf. Social Media / WANA News Agency
“The widespread distribution of stone hand tools across this area indicates that Deh Tall was repeatedly occupied by Paleolithic humans during the Early and Middle Pleistocene, more than 200,000 years ago,” Zarei explained. “The abundance of raw stone material on the alluvial fans, especially near the mountain slopes, made it ideal for producing large Acheulean tools. The presence of seasonal springs and water channels also played a crucial role in attracting early human groups to this area.”
Zarei described the excavation methods as a combination of systematic surface sampling and spatial documentation, including full recovery of finds within 10×10 meter grids, recording areas at risk of development, and detailed photogrammetric mapping of artifacts.
He added that geomorphological studies were also conducted to analyze the formation of the alluvial fans and that samples of raw lithic material were collected for petrographic analysis.
The archaeological team identified a range of large stone tools, including hand axes, cleavers, and heavy scrapers characteristic of the Early Paleolithic Acheulean industry. The research focused on precise spatial documentation, raw material sampling, and data analysis using GIS and remote sensing systems.
According to Zarei, the Deh Tall site’s strategic location, access to seasonal water sources, and availability of suitable lithic materials make it one of the key sites for Paleolithic studies in southern Iran. The final results of the project will be published after laboratory analysis and comparative studies with other Paleolithic sites across Western Asia are completed.
Zarei expressed hope that the findings would contribute to the formal registration and protection of Deh Tall — one of Iran’s largest Acheulean Paleolithic and rock art sites.
The excavation was carried out under the authorization of the Research Institute of Cultural Heritage and Tourism (RICHT) and in cooperation with the Hormozgan Provincial Department of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts.
