The Neolithic-Chalcolithic Transition in Southwestern Iran: Examining Blade Production Technology at Tall-i Bakun B, Fars

The onset of the Chalcolithic period of Fars in southwestern Iran is marked by the introduction of distinct painted vessels of Bakun ware, supposedly accomplished through interaction with communities in the lowland plains to the west. This paper examines lithic core reduction technology in this period with reference to the materials excavated by a Japanese expedition at Tall-i Bakun B in 1956. The results, although based on a small sample size, elucidate that the Early Chalcolithic lithic industry at this site features typical characteristics known as the Post-Mlefaatian. More specifically, it exhibits the predominant use of unifacial cores for pressure blank production technology. This finding supports our previous view that proposed two phases for the Post-Mlefaatian: the early and late Post-Mlefaatian, characterized by the use of bullet cores and unifacial cores, respectively; each represents the Late Ceramic Neolithic and the Chalcolithic period. As comparable diachronic changes have been observed in the lowland plains to the west, careful research on the backgrounds of these pan-geographic lithic changes would provide a better understanding of the cultural dynamics of this period, explained solely based on ceramic evidence.