Newly Found Rock Motifs of Nargeseh in Chegeni County, Lorestan Province

Lorestan is one of the provinces in the west of Iran that is located in the natural- cultural zone of central Zagros. Due to various reasons, including environmental conditions and high livelihood potentials, this province has long been the focus and settlement of human societies. One of the most important evidences of human footprints in Lorestan is rock arts. In 2015, during the archaeological survey of Chegeni county, a set of rock arts was identified. These motifs were created on the wall of a rock shelter and the rocks around it in the northern side of Nargeseh village of Chegeni county. The discussed collection is a combination of pictograms and petroglyphs. Pictograms are created with two colors of Ochre pigments and black, which are comparable to the motifs introduced in Mirmalas and Homian caves in Kouhdasht and Dosheh cave in Chegeni county. Petroglyphs are in two forms of carvings and scratched lines on the surface of the rocks.  The main theme of these motifs is the scene of hunting wild animals such as ibex by humans with clubs and possibly spears with the help of dogs. Men has been depicted in two states, on foot and on horseback. By examining this diverse collection of rock art and relying on anthropological information from the people of Lorestan, the author believes that the depiction of the mountain goat hunting scene by humans is a proof of the importance of hunting animals in their food basket and the superior and mythical social status of people and are hunters who have skill and ability in hunting.