Sourcing obsidian from Chogha Golan, an Aceramic Neolithic site in west-central Zagros, Iran

Aceramic Neolithic obsidian artifacts from Chogha Golan, Iran, reveal early socio-economic networks spanning the Zagros and Taurus regions. Non-destructive pXRF analysis of 45 specimens—including bladelets, tools, and knapping debris—traces their origins to three volcanic sources: Nemrut Dağ, Bingöl A, and Bingöl B in southeastern Anatolia. Excavated between 2009–2010 by the Tübingen-Iranian Stone Age Research Project (TISARP), these findings date to 9,800–9,600 cal BP, providing critical insights into prehistoric trade and technological exchange during the transition to Neolithic life in west-central Zagros.

Zeidi, M., Frahm, E., & Conard, N. J. (2026). Sourcing obsidian from Chogha Golan, an Aceramic Neolithic site in west-central Zagros, Iran. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 74, 105971. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2026.105971