{{Short description|Oldest archaeological site in Iran}} {{Infobox ancient site |name = Qaleh Kurd |native_name = {{langx|fa|غار قلعه‌کُرد}} |map_type = Iran |relief = yes |location = Qazvin province, Iran |coordinates={{coord|35.7972|48.8572}} |altitude_m = 2137 }}

'''Qaleh Kurd''' cave ({{langx|fa|غار قلعه‌کُرد}}) is the oldest archaeological site discovered in Iran.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last1=Vahdati Nasab |first1=H. |last2=Berillon |first2=G. |last3=Hashemi |first3=S. M. |last4=Bahain |first4=J.J. |last5=Sévêque |first5=N. |last6=Jayez |first6=M. |last7=Bonilauri |first7=S. |last8=Jamet |first8=G. |last9=Kharazian |first9=M. A. |last10=Nateghi |first10=A. |last11=Abdollahi |first11=A. |last12=Antoine |first12=P. |last13=Beheshti |first13=I. |last14=Boulbes |first14=N. |last15=Chapon-Sao |first15=C. |last16=Gallet |first16=X. |last17=Falguères |first17=C. |last18=Garbé |first18=L. |last19=Kazzazi |first19=M. |last20=Zavar Mousavi |first20=A. |last21=Nematollahinia |first21=Sareh. |last22=Özçelebi |first22=J. |last23=Stoetzel |first23=O. |last24=Tomberet |first24=O. |last25=Zeitoun |first25=V.|date=2024-05-23 |title=Qaleh Kurd Cave (Qazvin, Iran): Oldest Evidence of Middle Pleistocene Hominin Occupations and a Human Deciduous Tooth in the Iranian Central Plateau |journal=Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology |language=en |volume=7 |number=1 |doi=10.1007/s41982-024-00180-4|url=https://mnhn.hal.science/mnhn-04584258 }}</ref> The cave is located at the very western limit of the Iranian Central Plateau, not far from the village of Qaleh in Qazvin province, surrounded by the Alborz and Zagros Mountains.

==Name== The name in Persian language means the castle of Kurd and has been transcribed to English as Qaleh Kurd,<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Shoaee |first1=M. J. |last2=Breeze |first2=P. S. |last3=Drake |first3=N. A. |last4=Hashemi |first4=S. M. |last5=Vahdati Nasab |first5=H. |last6=Breitenbach |first6=S. F. M. |last7=Stevens |first7=T. |last8=Boivin |first8=N. |last9=Petraglia |first9=M. D. |date=2023-03-01 |editor-last=Iovita |editor-first=R. |title=Defining paleoclimatic routes and opportunities for hominin dispersals across Iran |journal=PLOS ONE |language=en |volume=18 |issue=3 |article-number=e0281872 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0281872|doi-access=free |pmid=36857333 |pmc=9977010 |bibcode=2023PLoSO..1881872S }}</ref> Ghaleh Kord<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-06-30 |title=Avaj holds potential to become a tourism hub |url=https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/449431/Avaj-holds-potential-to-become-a-tourism-hub |access-date=2024-05-25 |website=Tehran Times |language=en}}</ref> and Ghaleh Kurd.

== Archeological importance == Researchers found ancient human remains in the Cave of Qaleh Kurd estimated to be between 600,000 and 700,000 years old.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-857152 | title=700,000-year-old human traces found in Iran's Qaleh Kurd cave site &#124; the Jerusalem Post }}</ref>

Qaleh Kurd Cave is the oldest prehistoric site in Iran where traces of human activities dating back to the Middle Pleistocene have been discovered. Indeed, the results of analyzes concerning different archaeological assemblages in the cave are dated between -452.000 and -165.000 years ago.<ref name=":0" />

These discoveries make this site, from a regional and chronological point of view, a key site for the knowledge of the first human settlements and their dispersion between the Levant and Asia.

The cave is known for its archeological importance especially for the discovery ''in situ'' of Chibanian archaeological assemblages. There have been multiple excavations in the Qaleh Kurd cave performed by different teams. During these excavations numerous artifacts have been discovered that include human remains, animal bones and neolithic artifacts.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Kamrani |first1=Z. |last2=Vahdati Nasab |first2=H. |last3=Bonilauri |first3=S. |last4=Hashemi Sarvandi |first4=S. M. |last5=Jayez |first5=M. |last6=Akhavan Kharrazian |first6=M. |last7=Beheshti |first7=S. I. |last8=Berillon |first8=G. |date=2023-02-20 |title=Techno-typological Analysis of Qaleh Kurd Cave Lithic Industries, Aavaj, Qazvin |journal=Quaternary Journal of Iran |language=fa |volume=8 |issue=3,4|doi=10.22034/irqua.2023.705430}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==See also== * Bisitun Cave * Darband Cave * Do-Ashkaft Cave * Kashafrud * Hotu and Kamarband Caves * Qal'eh Bozi * Warwasi

{{coord|35.7969|48.8564|type:landmark_region:IR|display=title}}

Category:Archaeological sites in Iran Category:Caves of Iran