ABSTRACT – Tepe Gheshlagh is located in the centre of Talvar Valley in Bijar County, in the Kurdistan province of Iran, on the east bank of River Talvar. It lies on a natural terrace, less than 30m above the present-day riverbed. The oval mound is about one hectare in area, and rises more than 14m above the surrounding fields. Three seasons of salvage excavation carried out at the site have revealed significant information on the Early, Middle and Late Chalcolithic periods (5500–3850 BC) in this region. Unfortunately, no accurate archaeological research has been undertaken to gain a better understanding of the Chalcolithic period, especially the Early Chalcolitic, and the current excavation highlights this issue. In fact, exploration of cultural traces and, in particular, the important settlement of Tepe Gheshlagh, as well as recognition of the subsistence economy of its residents can increase our knowledge of cultural traditions in this region.
