Chogha Bonut


Chogha Bonut is an archaeological site in south-western Iran, located in the Khuzistan Province. It is believed that the site was settled as early as 7200 BCE, making it the oldest lowland village in south-western Iran.
This settlement on the Susiana Plain played a big role in the early Elam civilization. Later, this area became dominated by Susa. The site is important because it preserves a record of preceramic period settlement in Iran.

Discovery

The site was accidentally discovered in 1976 when the mound was being levelled for agribusiness development. Helene Kantor, then working at Chogha Mish nearby, hurried to the site and received a permit to investigate it.
Kantor remained for two seasons, but was unable to return in 1979 due to the Iranian Revolution. Abbas Alizadeh continued investigations at the site in 1996. His findings were published in 2003. It is one of the few Neolithic sites excavated since the Iranian revolution.

Settlement

Five phases of occupation are documented at the site:
  1. the Aceramic phase,
  2. the Formative Ceramic phase,
  3. the Archaic Susiana 0 phase,
  4. the Late Middle Susiana phase
  5. the Late Susiana 2 phase.