The Iranian Prehistoric Project: New problems arise as more is learned of the first attempts at food production and settled village life.
Abstract
Many indications point toward the hill flanks of the Fertile Crescent in southwestern Asia as the scene of the earliest development of effective food production and a village-farming-community way of life, some 10,000 years ago or less. In its 1959-60 field season, with a staff made up of both cultural and natural historians, the Iranian Prehistoric Project reclaimed further evidence of this important transitional step in human history. This is a short interim report, based entirely on an in-the-field assessment of the materials.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
The adoption of carbohydrate-rich Neolithic farming diets began approximately 10,000 years BP.
“Two of the greatest dietary shifts in human evolution involved the adoption of carbohydrate-rich Neolithic (farming) diets6,7 (beginning ~10,000 years BP6,8), and the more recent advent of industrially processed flour and sugar (~1850)9.”
From Sequencing ancient calcified dental plaque shows changes in oral microbiota with dietary shifts of the Neolithic and Industrial revolutions (2013) · cites this paper as [6]
Cites
Domestication of Food Plants in the Old World
Helback, H. (1959) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.130.3372.365 · Cited by 282 · see citing works
Evidence for an abrupt change in climate close to 11,000 years ago
Broecker, W. S., Ewing, W. M., & Heezen, B. C. (1960) · American Journal of Science · doi:10.2475/ajs.258.6.429 · Cited by 142 · see citing works
Animal Domestication in the Prehistoric Near East
Reed, C. A. (1959) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.130.3389.1629 · Cited by 89 · see citing works
Self-citationBraidwood, R. J. (1958) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.127.3312.1419 · Cited by 88 · see citing works
Self-citationBraidwood, R. J., Howe, B. M., & Negahban, E. O. (1960) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.131.3412.1536 · Cited by 54 · see citing works
Self-citationDating of Zawi Chemi, an Early Village Site at Shanidar, Northern Iraq
Solecki, R. S., & Rubin, M. (1958) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.127.3312.1446.a · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Adler, C. J., Dobney, K., Weyrich, L. S., Kaidonis, J., Walker, A. W., Haak, W., Bradshaw, C. J. A., Townsend, G., Sołtysiak, A., Alt, K. W., et al. (2013) · Nature Genetics · doi:10.1038/ng.2536 · Cited by 621 · see citing works
Stiner, M. C., Munro, N. D., & Surovell, T. A. (2000) · Current Anthropology · doi:10.1086/300102 · Cited by 686 · see citing works
On the domestication of the soybean
Hymowitz, T. (1970) · Economic Botany · doi:10.1007/bf02860745 · Cited by 502 · see citing works
The Tortoise and the Hare: Small-Game Use, the Broad-Spectrum Revolution, and Paleolithic Demography
Stiner, Munro, N. D., & Surovell, T. A. (2000) · Current Anthropology · doi:10.2307/3596428 · Cited by 500 · see citing works
Fisher, W. B., Harrison, J. V., Scharlau, K., Oberlander, T. M., Ganji, M., Dewan, M. L., Famouri, J., Robertson, R. H. S., Bobek, H., Misonne, X., et al. (1968) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/chol9780521069359 · Cited by 412 · see citing works
(1970) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/chol9780521070515 · Cited by 396 · see citing works
KINGERY, W. D., Vandiver, P. B., & Prickett, M. (1988) · Journal of Field Archaeology · doi:10.1179/009346988791974501 · Cited by 202 · see citing works
Potential Effects of Horizontal Gene Exchange in the Human Gut
Lerner, A., Matthias, T., & Aminov, R. I. (2017) · Frontiers in Immunology · doi:10.3389/fimmu.2017.01630 · Cited by 200 · see citing works
Archaeological Ethnography in Western Iran, 1959-1960
Watson, P. J. (2010) · Ethnoarchaeology · doi:10.1179/eth.2010.2.2.235 · Cited by 147 · see citing works
Agriculture and Urban Life in Early Southwestern Iran
Adams, R. M. (1962) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.136.3511.109 · Cited by 111 · see citing works
Were There Hafted Projectile Points in the Mousterian?
Holdaway, S. (1989) · Journal of Field Archaeology · doi:10.1179/jfa.1989.16.1.79 · Cited by 96 · see citing works
Research in the Prehistory of Central Western Iran
Young, T. C., & Smith, P. E. L. (1966) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.153.3734.386 · Cited by 76 · see citing works
Nasab, H. V., Clark, G. A., & Torkamandi, S. (2012) · Quaternary International · doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2012.11.028 · Cited by 70 · see citing works
Tsanova, T. (2013) · Journal of Human Evolution · doi:10.1016/j.jhevol.2013.04.005 · Cited by 69 · see citing works
Earliest evidence of dental caries manipulation in the Late Upper Palaeolithic
Oxilia, G., Peresani, M., Romandini, M., Matteucci, C., Spiteri, C. D., Henry, A. G., Schulz, D., Archer, W., Crezzini, J., Boschin, F., et al. (2015) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/srep12150 · Cited by 64 · see citing works
Animal Domestication in the Zagros : A Review of Past and Current Research.
Zeder, M. A. (1999) · Paléorient · doi:10.3406/paleo.1999.4684 · Cited by 64 · see citing works
Wengrow, D. (1998) · Antiquity · doi:10.1017/s0003598x00087378 · Cited by 63 · see citing works
Mousterian Assemblage Variability on an Interregional Scale
Dibble, H. L. (1991) · Journal of Anthropological Research · doi:10.1086/jar.47.2.3630327 · Cited by 57 · see citing works
University of Pennsylvania Radiocarbon Dates VI
Stuckenrath, R. (1963) · Radiocarbon · doi:10.1017/s003382220003681x · Cited by 54 · see citing works
Beyond the Graver: Reconsidering Burin Function
Barton, C. M., Olszewski, D. I., & Coinman, N. R. (1996) · Journal of Field Archaeology · doi:10.1179/009346996791973981 · Cited by 53 · see citing works
Scott, J. E., & Marean, C. W. (2009) · Journal of Human Evolution · doi:10.1016/j.jhevol.2009.05.012 · Cited by 48 · see citing works
Fisher, W. B. (1968) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/chol9780521069359.002 · Cited by 48 · see citing works
Butzer, K. W. (1970) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/chol9780521070515.003 · Cited by 47 · see citing works
Becerra‐Valdivia, L., Douka, K., Comeskey, D. J., Bazgir, B., Conard, N. J., Marean, C. W., Ollé, A., Otte, M., Tumung, L., Zeidi, M., et al. (2017) · Journal of Human Evolution · doi:10.1016/j.jhevol.2017.05.011 · Cited by 46 · see citing works
Natural Environment of Early Food Production North of Mesopotamia
Wright, H. E. (1968) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.161.3839.334 · Cited by 44 · see citing works
Tappeh Sang-e Chakhmaq and the beginning of the Neolithic in north-east Iran
Roustaei, K., Mashkour, M., & Tengberg, M. (2015) · Antiquity · doi:10.15184/aqy.2015.26 · Cited by 40 · see citing works
Bangsgaard, P., Yeomans, L., Darabi, H., Gregersen, K. M., Olsen, J., Richter, T., & Mortensen, P. (2019) · Cambridge Archaeological Journal · doi:10.1017/s095977431900009x · Cited by 38 · see citing works
Major transitions in human evolution revisited: A tribute to ancient DNA
Ermini, L., Sarkissian, C. S. I. D., Willerslev, E., & Orlando, L. (2014) · Journal of Human Evolution · doi:10.1016/j.jhevol.2014.06.015 · Cited by 37 · see citing works
Shidrang, S. (2017) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-981-10-6826-3_10 · Cited by 36 · see citing works
McLachlan, K. (1968) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/chol9780521069359.022 · Cited by 36 · see citing works
Schmandt‐Besserat, D. (1982) · American Anthropologist · doi:10.1525/aa.1982.84.4.02a00110 · Cited by 35 · see citing works
Earliest Radiocarbon Dates for Domesticated Animals
Protsch, R., & Berger, R. (1973) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.179.4070.235 · Cited by 35 · see citing works
de Planhol, X., & Brown, J. A. (1968) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/chol9780521069359.014 · Cited by 33 · see citing works
Harrison, J. V. (1968) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/chol9780521069359.003 · Cited by 33 · see citing works
Ghasidian, E., Bretzke, K., & Conard, N. J. (2017) · Journal of Anthropological Archaeology · doi:10.1016/j.jaa.2017.03.001 · Cited by 32 · see citing works
Genes and people in the caspian littoral: A population genetic study in northern Iran
Kirk, R. L., Keats, B. J. B., Blake, N. M., McDermid, E. M., Ala, F., Karimi, M., Nickbin, B., Shabazi, H., & Kmet, J. (1977) · American Journal of Physical Anthropology · doi:10.1002/ajpa.1330460302 · Cited by 32 · see citing works
CcpA and CodY Coordinate Acetate Metabolism in Streptococcus mutans
Kim, J. N., & Burne, R. A. (2017) · Applied and Environmental Microbiology · doi:10.1128/aem.03274-16 · Cited by 31 · see citing works
PALESTINE DURING THE NEOLITHIC AND CHALCOLITHIC PERIODS
de Vaux, R. (1970) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/chol9780521070515.012 · Cited by 31 · see citing works
Bobek, H. (1968) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/chol9780521069359.009 · Cited by 31 · see citing works
ANIMAL DOMESTICATION AND OSCILLATING CLIMATES
Hesse, B. (1982) · Cited by 29 · see citing works
Prehistoric Archeological Surveys and Excavations in Afghanistan: 1959-1960 and 1961-1963
Dupree, L. (1964) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.146.3644.638 · Cited by 29 · see citing works
Goder‐Goldberger, M., & Buller, A. M. (2022) · Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology · doi:10.1007/s41982-022-00112-0 · Cited by 28 · see citing works
Melamid, A. (1968) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/chol9780521069359.017 · Cited by 28 · see citing works
New excavations at Tappeh Asiab, Kermanshah Province, Iran
Darabi, H., Richter, T., & Mortensen, P. (2018) · Antiquity · doi:10.15184/aqy.2018.3 · Cited by 27 · see citing works
Shoaee, M. J., Nasab, H. V., & Petraglia, M. D. (2021) · Journal of Anthropological Archaeology · doi:10.1016/j.jaa.2021.101292 · Cited by 27 · see citing works
Defining paleoclimatic routes and opportunities for hominin dispersals across Iran
Shoaee, M. J., Breeze, P. S., Drake, N., Hashemi, S. M., Nasab, H. V., Breitenbach, S. F. M., Stevens, T., Boivin, N. L., & Petraglia, M. D. (2023) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0281872 · Cited by 27 · see citing works
Bowen-Jones, H. (1968) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/chol9780521069359.019 · Cited by 26 · see citing works
Matthews, W., Shillito, L.-M., Elliott, S., Bull, I. D., & Williams, J. (2014) · British Academy eBooks · doi:10.5871/bacad/9780197265758.001.0001 · Cited by 25 · see citing works
ZOOGEOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS OF THE LIZARD FAUNA OF IRAN
Anderson, S. C. (1968) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/chol9780521069359.011 · Cited by 25 · see citing works
Behnam, J. (1968) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/chol9780521069359.015 · Cited by 25 · see citing works
Zeder, M. A. (2024) · Journal of Archaeological Research · doi:10.1007/s10814-024-09195-5 · Cited by 24 · see citing works
Zeder, M. A. (2024) · Journal of Archaeological Research · doi:10.1007/s10814-024-09198-2 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
Laden Animal Figurines from the Chalcolithic Period in Palestine
Epstein, C. (1985) · Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research · doi:10.2307/1356898 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
CHALLENGES OF THE FARS NEOLITHIC CHRONOLOGY: AN APPRAISAL
Khanipour, M., Niknami, K.-A., & Abe, M. (2020) · Radiocarbon · doi:10.1017/rdc.2020.113 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
Matthews, W., Shillito, L., Elliott, S., Bull, I. D., & Williams, J. M. (2014) · British Academy eBooks · doi:10.5871/bacad/9780197265758.003.0014 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
La Stratigraphie de Cafer Höyük-Est (Turquie) et les origines du PPNB du Taurus
Cauvin, J. (1989) · Paléorient · doi:10.3406/paleo.1989.4486 · Cited by 17 · see citing works
Weinberg, S. S. (1970) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/chol9780521070515.014 · Cited by 17 · see citing works
Towards reassessing the Neolithisation process in Western Iran
Darabi, H. (2012) · Documenta Praehistorica · doi:10.4312/dp.39.8 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
The Beginnings of the Use of Clay in Turkey
Schmandt‐Besserat, D. (1977) · Anatolian Studies · doi:10.2307/3642659 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
THE DEVELOPMENT OF CITIES FROM AL-‘UBAID TO THE END OF URUK 5
Mallowan, M. E. L. (1970) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/chol9780521070515.010 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
Neolithization Process in the central Zagros:
Darabi, H., Richter, T., & Mortensen, P. (2019) · Documenta Praehistorica · doi:10.4312/dp.46-3 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
Ganji, M. H. (1968) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/chol9780521069359.006 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
THE EARLIEST SETTLEMENTS IN WESTERN ASIA FROM THE NINTH TO THE END OF THE FIFTH MILLENNIUM B.C.
Mellaart, J. (1970) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/chol9780521070515.008 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
Pichon, F., Estévez, J. J. I., Anderson, P., & Tsuneki, A. (2023) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0290537 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
Zarzian Microliths from Warwasi Rockshelter, Iran: Scalene Triangles as Arrow Components
Olszewski, D. I. (1993) · Archeological Papers of the American Anthropological Association · doi:10.1525/ap3a.1993.4.1.199 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
PASTORALISM, NOMADISM AND THE SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGY OF IRAN
Sunderland, E. (1968) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/chol9780521069359.021 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
Archeological Survey and Excavation in Iran, 1961
Hole, F. (1962) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.137.3529.524 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
Richter, T., Darabi, H., Alibaigi, S., Arranz‐Otaegui, A., Bangsgaard, P., Khosravi, S., Maher, L., Mortensen, P., Pedersen, P. N., Roe, J., et al. (2021) · Oxford Journal of Archaeology · doi:10.1111/ojoa.12213 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Heydari‐Guran, S., Douka, K., Higham, T., Münzel, S. C., Deckers, K., Hourshid, S., Naderi, R., Asiabani, S., & Ghasidian, E. (2021) · Journal of Archaeological Science Reports · doi:10.1016/j.jasrep.2021.103050 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
Nasab, H. V., Bérillon, G., Hashemi, S. M., Bahain, J., Sévêque, N., Jayez, M., Bonilauri, S., Jamet, G., Kharazian, M. A., Nateghi, A., et al. (2024) · Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology · doi:10.1007/s41982-024-00180-4 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Evolution of the Oral Microbiome and Dental Caries
Adler, C. J., Browne, G. V., Sukumar, S., & Hughes, T. E. (2017) · Current Oral Health Reports · doi:10.1007/s40496-017-0151-1 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
THE ORIGIN OF THE ZAGROS DEFILES
Oberlander, T. M. (1968) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/chol9780521069359.005 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Smith, C. E. (1965) · Field Museum of Natural History eBooks · doi:10.5962/bhl.title.2408 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Riel-Salvatore, J. G., Lythe, A., & Albornoz, A. U. (2021) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0251318 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Comparing Middle to Upper Paleolithic Transitions in the Middle East and Egypt
Olszewski, D. I. (2009) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-0-387-76487-0_21 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Baumgartel, E. J. (1970) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/chol9780521070515.011 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Darabi, H., Richter, T., Sołtysiak, A., Arranz‐Otaegui, A., Davoudi, H., & Nishiaki, Y. (2024) · Journal of Field Archaeology · doi:10.1080/00934690.2024.2382012 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Iversen, I. (2015) · Environmental Archaeology · doi:10.1179/1749631415y.0000000023 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
The Domestication Process in Southeastern Turkey: The Evidence of Mezraa-Teleilat
Tübingen, E.-K.-U. (2008) · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Jayez, M., Mirzai, K. M., & Niknami, K. A. (2018) · Quaternary International · doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2018.10.011 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Niknami, K.-A., & Nikzad, M. (2012) · Documenta Praehistorica · doi:10.4312/dp.39.33 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
The Early Upper Palaeolithic in the Zagros Mountains
Olszewski, D. I. (2017) · Oxbow Books · doi:10.2307/j.ctvh1dppc.17 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Hayes, W. C., Rowton, M. B., & Stubbings, F. H. (1970) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/chol9780521070515.007 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Shidrang, S. (2015) · doi:10.70675/c901c862z1ce8z4b41zb3aez5aca0d758f81 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Initial Upper Paleolithic in the Zagros Mountains
Shoaee, M. J., Nasab, H. V., Storozum, M. J., Frenzel, P. F., Kharazian, M. A., Fernandes, R., Hashemi, S. M., Jayez, M., Amano, N., Abbasabadi, B. M., et al. (2024) · Frontiers in Earth Science · doi:10.3389/feart.2024.1352099 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Roustaei, K., & Gratuze, B. (2019) · Journal of Archaeological Science Reports · doi:10.1016/j.jasrep.2019.101969 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
A social perspective on the Neolithic in western Iran
Darabi, H. (2016) · Documenta Praehistorica · doi:10.4312/dp.43.14 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Niknami, K. A., & Askarpour, V. (2013) · International Journal of Heritage in the Digital Era · doi:10.1260/2047-4970.2.3.343 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Carretero, L. G., Lucas, L., Stevens, C. J., & Fuller, D. Q. (2023) · Journal of Archaeological Science Reports · doi:10.1016/j.jasrep.2023.104264 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Quseir Al-Qadim, Egypt, and the Potential of Archaeological Pollen Analysis in the Near East
Kelso, G. K., & Good, I. (1995) · Journal of Field Archaeology · doi:10.1179/009346995791547804 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Petrova, N., Babenko, A. N., Darabi, H., & Richter, T. (2025) · Archaeological Research in Asia · doi:10.1016/j.ara.2024.100588 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Abolfathi, M., Baills, H., Bonilauri, S., Forestier, H., Nasab, H. V., Khaneghah, A. A., & Bérillon, G. (2018) · L Anthropologie · doi:10.1016/j.anthro.2018.10.004 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Field archaeology and foreign assistance during the decade of development in Iran and Turkey
Olson, K. G., & Luke, C. (2023) · History and Anthropology · doi:10.1080/02757206.2023.2261972 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Heydari, M., Guérin, G., & Heydari‐Guran, S. (2024) · Quaternary International · doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2023.12.007 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Prehistoric Rodents of the Middle East
Turnbull, P. F. (1975) · Monographiae biologicae · doi:10.1007/978-94-010-1944-6_17 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
The Western Park of Taq-e Bostan, New Find In The Western of Central Zagros, Kermanshah
Mirghaderi, M. A., & Hozhabri, A. (2017) · Muṭāli̒āt-i bāstān/shināsī-i pārsah · doi:10.30699/pjas.1.1.21 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Harrison, J. V. (1968) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/chol9780521069359.016 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Zeder, M. A. (2025) · Journal of Archaeological Science · doi:10.1016/j.jas.2025.106224 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Dastenaei, M. H., & Niknami, K. A. (2020) · Journal of Ancient History and Archeology · doi:10.14795/j.v7i4.564 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
- Authors
- Braidwood, R. J., Howe, B., & Reed, C. A.
- Affiliations
- University of Chicago (US)
- Harvard University (US)
- University of Illinois Chicago (US)
- ORCID
- Howe, Bruce
- Venue
- Science
- Published
- 1961-06-23
- Volume
- 133
- Issue
- 3469
- Pages
- 2008-2010
- ISSN
- 0036-8075 (ISSN-L)
- 1095-9203
- OpenAlex
- W2063755961
- Cited by
- 158
- References
- 6
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 8.32
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Science (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Archaeology and ancient environmental studies
- Social Sciences › Anthropology › Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Archeology › Archaeological and Geological Studies
- Keywords
- prehistoric archaeology, Fertile Crescent, origins of agriculture, village farming, Neolithic transition
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
