Ancient Metalworking Sites in the Landscape of Kuhdasht and Presenting a Predictive Model for Central Zagros

The study of human-environment interactions and environmental exploitation patterns is one of the main approaches of modern archeology. One of the central Zagros' capabilities, especially the Pish-Kuh of cultural Lorestan, is the extraction and production of metals, especially bronze and iron, associated with many ambiguities, including identifying mines sites related to ancient metalwork. This investigation is based on 143 ancient metalwork sites identified during four seasons of archaeological survey in Kuhdasht. Attempted to a descriptive-analytical method and using GIS and spatial analysis, environmental factors affecting the formation and distribution of metalworking sites identifying in the Kuhdasht landscape. Finally, it was found that the Kashkan Geological Formation, which has an outcrop of rocks containing iron oxide, has the most role in the site selection of ancient metalworking sites, followed by suitable forest cover and proximity to water resources, are of complementary importance.