An Analytical Study on the Bronze Age Cultures of Harsin, Kermanshah Province (Iran)

Despite the fact that the prehistoric period and particularly the Bronze Age in Central Zagros have been well studied and identified to some extent, no systematic research has been conducted by foreign or Iranian archeologists on the subject of Harsin County. A total of 29 sites belonging to the Bronze Age have been identified in the archeological investigation of the region between 2002 and 2010. Based on the surface findings, all of these sites belong to the Middle and Late Bronze Age. Furthermore, it was discovered that most of these sites formed on the banks of permanent and seasonal rivers and lakes. As for the extent of residential sites of Bronze Age in the region and their location, it is implied that there were rather important and large sites along with small villages, indicating close relationships with the neighboring regions at the end of the third millennium and the beginning of the second millennium b.c. (Middle Bronze Age). The significance of the current study lies in the fact that no evidence was obtained from the Early Bronze Age (Yanik Culture), while the region has maintained numerous cultural relationships with the neighboring areas such as Kangavar with ceramics such as Godin III, Mahidasht and Lorestan from the Middle to Late Bronze Age. In addition to discussing several assumptions, as well as the analysis and typology of ceramics, it was found that only geometric patterns are visible on painted potteries of Bronze Age in Harsin County. Surprisingly, the most striking similarity has been witnessed among the region’s potteries, Lorestan potteries and eastern Pish-e Kuh. A large number of ceramics probably had local and native patterns