Darband Cave
![](../I/m/Darband_cave%2C_Gilan.jpg)
Darband Cave is a Lower Paleolithic site in the Gilan Province in northern Iran, located on the north side of a deep tributary canyon of the Siahrud River, a tributary of the Sefīd-Rūd River that flows into the Caspian Sea.
The cave contains the first known evidence for Lower Paleolithic cave occupation in Iran. A collection of stone artifacts and animal remains was collected by a group of Iranian archaeologists from the Center for Paleolithic Research of the National Museum of Iran and ICHTO of Gilan. The site dates back to the late Middle Pleistocene period.
![](../I/m/Exhibition_2013-_National_Museum_of_Iran-Darband_cave-stone_tools.jpg)
The presence of large numbers of cave bear and brown bear remains and sparse stone artifacts at the site indicates that Darband primarily represents a bear den. The co-occurrence of artifacts and bear bones does not imply human predation or scavenging. Because there are no clear cut marks, except a few burning signs on the bear bones, they probably accumulated through natural mortality.
References
- Biglari, F. , V. Jahani (2011). "The Pleistocene Human Settlement in Gilan, Southwest Caspian Sea: Recent Research.". Eurasian Prehistory 8 (1-8 (1-2): 3-28.
- Biglari, F.; Jahani, V.; Mashkour, M.; Argant, A.; Shidrang, S.; and Taheri, K. (2007). "Darband Cave: New Evidence for Lower Paleolithic occupation at Western Alborz Range, Gilan.". Paper presented at the 11th Symposium of the Geological Society of Iran, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad.
- Biglari, F. and S. Shidrang (2006). "The Lower Paleolithic Occupation of Iran". Near Eastern Archaeology. 69 (3–4): 160–168.
External links
- Biglari, F. "Darband Cave Project". Retrieved May 2011. Check date values in:
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Coordinates: 36°50′08″N 49°39′32″E / 36.83556°N 49.65889°E