The Pleistocene and Holocene Archaeological Finds in Soumar, Kermanshah Province

The region of Soumar in the province of Kermanshah is archaeologically important because it lies between the two major cultural zones of Mesopotamia and Central Zagros. Nevertheless, it has remained unknown to the scholarship. This region, consisting mainly of a small alluvial and flood plain, connects the lowlands of Mesopotamia with the highlands of the Zagros. Therefore, it seemed to provide a considerable amount of archeological evidence, especially with regard to the diachronic cultural relations between these two main regions.In the winter of 2015, a survey was conducted as part of a salvage project to record archeological finds in the region. As the result 53 sites, including open-air and mounded-sites, cemeteries, and bridges, were identified. They presented finds dating from the early Paleolithic to the late Islamic period. Analysis showed that there was an intense relationship with the nearby Mesopotamian lowlands since the early 6th millennium BC. Moreover, settlements were established either along the Gangir River or on the surrounding hills. This may indicate a coexistence of seasonal and year-round settlements over time. It is thought that Soumar was a connecting route between Mesopotamia and the Zagros and that nomadic pastoralists may have played an important role in this regard.