Settlements of Izeh Plain in Stone Age: Characterization and Topographical Analysis

Izeh Plain is a sedimentary plain situated at northeastern part at Khuzestan Province, Iran where according to some partial investigations carried out in 2007, 54 settlements from Epipalaeolitic and early Neolithic ages were discovered there. Henry Wright, who had explored throughout this settlement before Islamic Revolution, implies that only 30 percent of piedmonts were completely investigated and as a result it was not possible for them to access Settlement Pattern in Epipalaeolithic age in this area. After Islamic Revoultion, within several explorations that conducted in areas surrounding Izeh Plain, some of settlements from Stone Age were discovered. Topographical analyses done on the discovered settlements during exploration in 2007 and looking at ecological perspective of this region indicate that the presence of two lakes that have formed within internal basin in Izeh Plain as well as all seasonal streams which flow into these two lakes from outskirt of Izeh Plain plus geological characteristics of this region that led to formation of several caves and dales in this area are considered as very important factors in formation of settlements from Stone Age.