The Dehtal site in western Hormozgan Province, Iran, provides critical insights into Acheulean hominin behaviour during the Lower-Middle Pleistocene, and highlights the importance of the Persian Gulf’s northern coastal and hinterland areas for tracing Pleistocene human populations and their associated Acheulean technocomplex. Situated on an alluvial plain near the Persian Gulf, this ~400-hectares site has yielded a significant Acheulean lithic assemblage, including giant cores (with flake scars exceeding 50 cm), large flakes, and Large Cutting Tools (LCTs) such as handaxes, cleavers, and massive scrapers. These finds confirm large-scale flake production and tool manufacturing, reinforcing the region’s role in Pleistocene hominin dispersals. The presence of giant cores and associated large flakes suggests systematic raw material exploitation, while the tool assemblage aligns with broader Acheulean technocomplex traditions. This paper demonstrates that studying this techno-complex provides a unique opportunity to enhance our understanding of Acheulean industries used by Lower Paleolithic hominins, as well as the role of accessible raw material sources and seasonal water availability (springs and streams) in attracting early hominin populations during the Lower-Middle Pleistocene, and underscores Dehtal’s importance for understanding Acheulean adaptations in a previously understudied region of the Iranian Plateau.
Zarei,S. (2025). Giant Cores and Large Flake Production at Dehtal: An Acheulean Site in the Northern Hinterland of Persian Gulf, Iran. (e724189). Journal of Iran National Museum, 3(1), e724189 doi: 10.22034/jinm.2025.2058491.1104
MLA
Zarei,S. . "Giant Cores and Large Flake Production at Dehtal: An Acheulean Site in the Northern Hinterland of Persian Gulf, Iran" .e724189 , Journal of Iran National Museum, 3, 1, 2025, e724189. doi: 10.22034/jinm.2025.2058491.1104
HARVARD
Zarei S. (2025). 'Giant Cores and Large Flake Production at Dehtal: An Acheulean Site in the Northern Hinterland of Persian Gulf, Iran', Journal of Iran National Museum, 3(1), e724189. doi: 10.22034/jinm.2025.2058491.1104
CHICAGO
S. Zarei, "Giant Cores and Large Flake Production at Dehtal: An Acheulean Site in the Northern Hinterland of Persian Gulf, Iran," Journal of Iran National Museum, 3 1 (2025): e724189, doi: 10.22034/jinm.2025.2058491.1104
VANCOUVER
Zarei S. Giant Cores and Large Flake Production at Dehtal: An Acheulean Site in the Northern Hinterland of Persian Gulf, Iran. Journal of Iran National Museum, 2025; 3(1): e724189. doi: 10.22034/jinm.2025.2058491.1104