The early Neolithic of Iraqi Kurdistan: current research at Bestansur, Shahrizor Plain

Matthews, R. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8316-4312, Matthews, W. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7408-6885, Richardson, A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7376-8948, Raheem, K. R., Walsh, S., Aziz, K. R., Bendrey, R., Whitlam, J., Charles, M., Bogaard, A., Iversen, I., Mudd, D. and Elliott, S. (2019) The early Neolithic of Iraqi Kurdistan: current research at Bestansur, Shahrizor Plain. Paleorient, 45 (2). ISSN 0153-9345

Abstract/Summary

Human communities made the transition from hunter-foraging to more sedentary agriculture at multiple locations across southwest Asia through the Early Neolithic (ca. 10,000-7000 BC). Societies explored strategies involving increasing management and development of plants, animals, materials, technologies and ideologies specific to each region whilst sharing some common attributes. Current research in the eastern Fertile Crescent is contributing new insights into the Early Neolithic transition and the critical role that this region played. The Central Zagros Archaeological Project (CZAP) is investigating this transition in Iraqi Kurdistan, including at the earliest Neolithic settlement so far excavated in the region. In this article, we focus on results from ongoing excavations at the Early Neolithic site of Bestansur on the Shahrizor Plain (Sulaimaniyah province), in order to address key themes in the Neolithic transition.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/82593
Item Type	Article
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Science > School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science > Department of Archaeology
Publisher	CNRS
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