Tepe Anouj of Malayer: The Key Site in East of Central Zagros, Iran

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Art and Architecture, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamadan, Iran (Corresponding Author).

2 PhD , of Archaeology, Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Art and Architecture, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamadan, Iran.

3 Assistant Professor University of Gonabad, Gonabad, Iran.

Abstract

Tepe Anouj (locally known as Qaleh Bolandeh) is situated in a village of the same name in the county of Malayer, Hamadan Province, and represents one of the key archaeological sites in the eastern Central Zagros. Archaeological research at the mound was carried out in 2018 and identified various cultural occupation periods from the Middle Chalcolithic to the Middle and Late Islamic periods. However, no evidence was recovered for several intermediate cultural periods, including Iron Ages I and II, as well as the Achaemenid, Seleucid, Sasanian, and early Islamic periods. The gathering of cultural data involved fieldwork activities such as archaeological excavation and survey. Additional information was obtained from published sources and existing reports. Ultimately, the cultural sequences of different periods at the site were systematically examined and analyzed. The primary research question guiding this study is as follows: What is the stratigraphic sequence at Tepe Anouj, and which cultural periods does it include? The results of this research indicate that evidence of occupation and various cultural periods has been identified at the site, including the Middle and Late Chalcolithic, Early Bronze Age (Godin IV or Yanik), Middle and Late Bronze Age (Godin III), Median (Iron Age III), Parthian, Ilkhanid, and Qajar periods. The findings of this excavation not only clarify the chronology of occupation at Tepe Anouj but also demonstrate that the site has significant potential to contribute to a better understanding of regional cultural developments, as it contains discontinuous yet long-term evidence of occupation spanning from prehistory to the Islamic period.

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Main Subjects

References

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Archaeological Research of Iran
Volume 15, Issue 47
English Issue
2026
Pages 245-277

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