Qabrestan Noshabad, a Neolithic Site in Kashan Region Results from First Archaeological Expedition

Neolithic period, the time when human start to change its way of life from hunting and gathering to framing and herding, is one of the most noticed cultural phenomenon by archaeologists. Kashan area is one of those regions that contains the oldest traces of this phenomenon, hence archaeological activities in the area goes back very early in Iran. Besides Sialk, that is most famous archaeological site of the region, Kashan area contains many other important archaeological sites that some of them are better known like Tepe Shourabeh, Arisman, and recently excavated Estark-Joshaqan from second millennium B.C. One of these important site is Tepe Qabrestan, near Noshabad city that maintains early evidences of cultural evolution of local societies of the region. It seems Tepe Qabrestan contains late Neolithic layers and is contemporary with late Sialk I and possibly early Sialk II period, are destroyed unfortunately by farming activities in the way that after one seasons of archaeological field work, it became clear that nothing important of the site has been remained for more investigations. Nevertheless this paper present the results of only season of archaeological activities at the site in 2009.