Baradostian culture

Baradostian culture
PeriodUpper Paleolithic
Datesc. 36,000 – c. 18,000 BC
Preceded byMousterian
Followed byZarzian culture, Trialetian

The Baradostian culture was an Upper Paleolithic flint industry culture found in the Zagros region in the border-country between Iraq and Iran. It was preceded by the Middle Paleolithic Mousterian culture, directly overlying it without an intervening bladelet industry.

According to M. Otte, the Baradostian culture is part of the Aurignacian traditions. This culture is known for the high percentage of burins and some of these are similar to the distinctive nosed profile of the Aurignacian burins.

The Yafteh cave and five other Baradostian caves are protected as a World Heritage Site under the name The Prehistoric Sites of the Khorramabad Valley.