Chogha Bonut

Chogha Bonut (Persian Choghā bonut) is an archaeological site in south-western Iran, located in the Khuzistan Province. It is believed that the site was settled as early as 7200 BCE, making it the oldest lowland village in south-western Iran.[1][2]

This settlement on the Susiana Plain played a big role in the early Elam civilization. Later, this area became dominated by Susa. The site is important because it preserves a record of preceramic period settlement in Iran.

Discovery

The site was accidentally discovered in 1976 when the mound was being levelled for agribusiness development. Helene Kantor, then working at Chogha Mish nearby, hurried to the site and received a permit to investigate it.[3]

Kantor remained for two seasons (1976/77 and 1977/78), but was unable to return in 1979 due to the Iranian Revolution.[4] Abbas Alizadeh continued investigations at the site in 1996.[4] His findings were published in 2003.[1] It is one of the few Neolithic sites excavated since the Iranian revolution.[5]

Settlement

Five phases of occupation are documented at the site:

  1. the Aceramic phase,
  2. the Formative Ceramic phase,
  3. the Archaic Susiana 0 phase (includes the Early Susiana period, ca. 5900 BCE),
  4. the Late Middle Susiana phase (ca. 5200 BCE)
  5. the Late Susiana 2 phase. (ca. 4400-4000 BCE)[6]

See also

References
  1. Abbas Alizadeh, Excavations at the Prehistoric Mound of Chogha Bonut, Khuzestan, Iran, Seasons 1976/77, 1977/78, and 1996, (PDF complete text, 232 pages) Oriental Institute Publications 120, 2003, ISBN 1-885923-23-6
  2. EXCAVATIONS AT CHOGHA BONUT: THE EARLIEST VILLAGE IN SUSIANA, IRAN Archived 2013-07-25 at the Wayback Machine, by Abbas Alizadeh – The Oriental Institute and the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations The University of Chicago
  3. Alden, John r. Excavations at the Prehistoric Mound of Chogha Bonut, Khuzestan, Iran: Seasons of 1976/77, 1977/78, and 1996 (Review), Journal of the American Oriental Society (January–March 2005)
  4. Alizadeh, Abbas. EXCAVATIONS AT CHOGHA BONUT: THE EARLIEST VILLAGE IN SUSIANA, IRAN Archived 2013-07-25 at the Wayback Machine, The Oriental Institute News and Notes, No. 153, Spring 1997
  5. Hole, Frank. Neolithic Age in Iran], The Circle of Ancient Iranian Studies, Retrieved July 21, 2010
  6. ČOḠĀ BONUT at Encyclopædia Iranica

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