Mazandaran's site back to 11,000 years ago opens to public

29 January 2005

Work in Kumishan Cave, in the northern province of Mazandaran, to study its archeological features and prepare it for public visit led to the discovery of remains of 11000-year-old humans and super size animals.

Kumishan is one of the famous caves of Mazandaran which dates back to the Paleolithic era, and the new discoveries indicate that it was then used as a human habitation.

Work in the cave started two years ago and included digging boring pits and stratigraphy studies, plus cleaning it up to prepare it for public visits after a 16-year break, archeologist with the Cultural Heritage and Tourism Department of Mazandaran, Ali Mahforouzi, told CHN.

Numerous human and animal remains were discovered during the excavations, which were studied during the past months, added Mahforouzi.

Some of the bones belong to super size animals dating to the Paleolithic era or 11000 years ago, and some belong to herbivorous ones such as wild goats. Marjan Mashkour, the animal archeologist in charge of studying the bones, believes that after being hunted, these animals were used as food by the Paleolithic humans.

A large amount of tools, including chisels and hunting tools, were also found in the cave. The tools seem to be created during the same time.

The excavations moreover led to the discovery of some pottery dating back to the Neolithic era, or some 8000 years ago, which indicates that people continued to use the cave as a residence up to then.

Mazandaran province, in the southern coastal line of the Caspian Sea, enjoys several unique caves similar to Kumishan which are to be turned into museums to attract tourists. Kumishan Cave will be ready for public visits in two-month time, as said by Mahforouzi.

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