Baradostian culture

Baradostian culture is an early Upper Palaeolithic flint industry culture in Zagros region at the border of Iran and Iraq.

The Mousterian culture is followed by the Baradostian culture.

Radiocarbon dates suggest that this is one of the earliest Upper Palaeolithic complexes; it may have begun as early as 36000 BC. Its relationship to neighbouring industries however remains unclear. Shanidar Cave in Iraqi Kurdistan, Warwasi rockshelter and Yafteh cave at western Zagros and Eshkaft-e gavi Cave in southern Zagros are among the major sites to be excavated. Perhaps caused by the maximum cold of the last phase of the most recent ice age or Wurm glaciation the Baradostian was replaced by a local Epi-Palaeolithic industry called the Zarzian culture. This tool tradition marks the end of the Zagros Palaeolithic sequence.

External links

• Benco et al. Asia, Western. From Encyclopedia of Human Evolution and Prehistory, 2nd ed; E. Delson, I. Tattersall, J. A.Van Couvering and A. S. Brooks, eds. Garland: New York, 2000.
• S. E. Churchill and F. H. Smith. Makers of the early Aurignacian of Europe. American Journal of Physical Anthropology. Vol.113(S31): 61 - 115.