Study of the Neolithic and Chalcolithic Periods of Qarehdagh Region based on the Archaeological Data of Ahar city

Qarehdagh region and Ahar city, which is located in East Azerbaijan (northwest of Iran), has different ancient sites and cultures. Archaeological studies and chronological table of northwest of Iran have been formed mostly based on archaeological data of the Urmia Lake Basin and extended to other regions of northwest of Iran and the position of other regions, including Qarahdagh region unknown in its cultural sequence remains. Since this area is located among the South Caucasus region, Moghan plain and the Lake Urmia basins of and Ghezel Ozan, it can play an important role in explaining and distinguishing the Neolithic, Chalcolithic periods of the region. And together with the comparison and analysis of recently obtained archaeological data of the region, present a relatively novel result. In order to understand the prehistoric cultures of the region (cultural periods), the following questions are raised: 1- How the chronological sequence of this region is explained according to cultural periods? The main hypothesis related to this question is the existence of Late Neolithic periods and Late Chalcolithic 2-3 (LC2-3) in the Ahar basin; 2- Which cultural features are understood from the common and uncommon cultural elements links (cultural interactions) of the northwest of Iran, including the Moghan plain and the other regions in terms of archaeological data and chronology of the mentioned periods? The present study has been carried out using descriptive-analytical study of archaeological data and data collection is based on field surveys and library studies with the aim of clarifying cultural horizons, the period of residence in the sites and completing the chronological table of the area. As a final point, it can be said that the pottery of the mentioned periods shows similarities with other regions of northwest of Iran, especially with the Urmia Lake basin. Due to the vast dimensions of the studied sites and other archaeological data, it is inferred that the settlements were seasonal and probably used limited by ranchers and nomadic communities.