Chogha Golan

Chogha Golan is an important aceramic Neolithic archaeological site located in the foothills of the Zagros Mountains in Iran. This site, which dates back to around 9800 BCE, is notable for its extensive cultural deposits, including red-painted plaster floors and mudbrick walls. The site features a stratified tell comprising 11 archaeological horizons, revealing a transition from a reliance on wild barley to the early domestication of emmer wheat around 7800 BCE. The site provides crucial insights into early plant management practices, as evidenced by the discovery of over 100,000 charred botanical items, including species from the Poaceae and Fabaceae families. Additionally, human figurines and a rich faunal assemblage further highlight the site's significance in understanding Neolithic life and subsistence strategies in the region.