Ban Makhmal (Faramarz): A Late Chalcolithic Site in the Northern Valley of the Central Zagros, Sonqor and Koliyaei Township, Kermanshah Province

Despite numerous archeological activities in the recent years in Kermanshah province, there has been little attention to the eastern parts of the province, including Sonqor and Koliaei. Appropriate geographical and environmental conditions, including the permanent rivers, the small and fertile midlands, and route of communication has provided suitable condition for habitation from a long time ago up to the present. Due to lack of information about the afore-mentioned region it was necessary to do a series of systematic studies based on regular and targeted excavations. Accordingly, the rescue studies of archaeological sites in Jamishan Dam Project could be the best opportunity for such purposes and could provide a good background for further studies. Faramarz is a late Chalcolithic site in the Jamishan Dam basin which was excavated with the goal of rescue studies. According to the preliminary results of excavation of the Faramarz site and comparing its pottery with the other contemporary archaeological sites, the site was occupied in a single phase, Godin VI3 period. According to data from the excavation of the Faramarz site it can be concluded that the breeding animals were very important and we hope that future animal bone studies helps to reconstruct the plaeo-diet of the site. On the other hand, a large number of shells of sweet waters were found in the site, which indicates that aquatics were hunted from adjacent rivers by residents. The ceramic assemblages of the site help us to reconstruct the relationship between the central plateau and central Zagros and Mesopotamia.