Descriptive Report of the Archaeological Survey and Identification of the Abharrud Basin

Due to its importance in the archaeological studies of Northwest Iran, the Abharrud basin was investigated and identified during two seasons in 2004 and 2005 with an area of 3400 square kilometers. The investigation was carried out in Abhar and Khorramdara counties with the objectives of identifying and recording artifacts, studying the pattern of settlements, studying the cultural connections of this area with other parts of the country, and as a result, 257 ancient artifacts were identified. The identified works were very diverse and mostly included ancient sites and mounds that were probably old village centers. The study of pottery and other surface finds indicates that the Abharrud region has been inhabited by humans since the Paleolithic period, and the settlement in its various parts continued until the late Islamic era.