Newly Discovered Petroglyphs of Khanim Alilou Meshkinshahr Site (Northwest of Iran)

Lithography is one of the oldest surviving human arts in history. In different parts of Iran, a number of rock designs have been identified and introduced so far, some of which are located in the geographical area of northwestern Iran. So far, various Petroglyphs have been identified and introduced in this area; in the meantime, the share of Meshkinshahr city is very significant. In this city, the number of areas with Petroglyphs has been identified, documented and introduced so far. In 2016, the authors identified, examined and documented a number of Petroglyphs while conducting a field study of Ms. Alilou’s site in Meshkinshahr identifying, reviewing and documenting about 300 Petroglyphs. In the present study, the authors use a field and library method based on descriptive-comparative studies looking for answers to the following questions. 1- How many types of Khanim Alilou’s Petroglyphs can be divided into themes? 2- Based on relative chronology, to what periods do these paintings belong? In answer to the above questions, the drawings are divided into 3 general categories of human, animal and geometric motifs; also, based on the relative chronology of these paintings, between the first millennium BC. They were created until the Parthian period and the beginning of Islam. The results of this study can be used to complete the lithographic information of the northwestern part of Iran, especially the city of Meshkinshahr.