Middle Paleolithic Lithic Industry from Qaleh Kurd Cave, Qazvin Province, Iran

This paper focuses on the lithic finds from two seasons of excavations at Qaleh Kurd (QK), a cave site in western Central Plateau. Through sedimentological studies, Holocene and Pleistocene deposits were identified during the excavations. Analysis of sedimentary context and the spatial distribution of the faunal remains and lithics suggested that the Pleistocene deposits at QK split into three sub-periods. Statistical analysis based on the lithic techno-typology confirmed such suggestion with the lithics featuring Middle Paleolithic (MP) affinities in all phases. The cross-sequence comparisons of QK’s lithics with the Zagros and Central Plateau MP assemblages suggested stronger affinities of QK with the former. The overall characteristics of the QK tool kit consist of a scraper-rich, flake-base typology, low frequency of denticulate and notch, the abundance of points, application of Levallois technique, frequent signs of direct percussion, minimal preparation of platform, and the presence of intense retouching and rejuvenating the edges.