| Period | Mesolithic |
|---|---|
| Dates | c. 20,000 – c. 10,000 BP |
| Preceded by | Baradostian culture |
| Followed by | M'lefaatian culture,Elshanka Culture |
| TheMesolithic |
|---|
| ↑Upper Paleolithic |
| Europe |
| Epipalaeolithic Near East |
| Caucasus |
| Zagros |
| ↓Neolithic |
Zarzian culture is an archaeological culture of latePaleolithic andMesolithic inSouthwest Asia.
The period of the culture is estimated to have existed about 18,000–8,000 BCE. It was preceded by theBaradostian culture in the same region and was related to theImeretian culture[citation needed] of theCaucasus.
The culture was named and recognised of the cave of Zarzi inIraqi Kurdistan.
Here were found plenty of microliths (up to 20% finds). Their forms are short and asymmetric trapezoids, and triangles with hollows.
Andy Burns states "The Zarzian of the Zagros region of Iran is contemporary with theNatufian but different from it. The only dates for the entire Zarzian come fromPalegawra Cave, and date to 17,300-17,000BP, but it is clear that it is broadly contemporary with theLevantineKebaran, with which it shares features. It seems to have evolved from theUpper PalaeolithicBaradostian."
There are only a few Zarzian sites and the area appears to have been quite sparsely populated during theEpipalaeolithic. Faunal remains from the Zarzian indicate that the temporary form of structures indicate a hunter-gatherer subsistence strategy, focused on onager, red deer and caprines. Better known sites include Palegawra Cave,Shanidar B2 and Zarzi."[1] The Zarzian culture seems to have participated in the early stages of whatKent Flannery has called thebroad spectrum revolution.The Zarzian culture is found associated with remains of thedomesticated dog and with the introduction of the bow and arrow. It seems to have extended north into theGobustan (Kobystan, Qobustan) region and into Eastern Iran as a forerunner of theHissar and related cultures.[2]
