Rock Art in Zanjan: Investigation of Agh Dash Rock Painting, Mahneshan

Western part of the Zanjan province in North West of Iran, is mountainous region with a relatively high mountains and the valleys between them. On the slop of one height in this region, and on the wall surfaces of rock shelters that called Agh Dash, Interesting designs is painted. The Agh Dash paintings which are the only Identified pictographs in North West of Iran, from the view point of variety of subject matters and Somewhat difference from the other rock paintings of Iran, has great importance in the study of rock arts. Subject of most designs are geometric motifs which are painted in a variety of shapes. Also human, animal, and botanical designs are the other subjects in the Agh Dash complexes. Because of the similarity between geometric painting of Agh dash and geometric patterns of chalcolithic period potteries in central, west and north of Iran, it is likely that the paintings of Agh dash date back to chalcolithic times.