ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the evermore detailed evidence from Iran in the light of key issues and topics centring on what might best be called the Neolithic Transition. Recent studies have focused on the “ratchet” nature of the Neolithic Transition whereby once certain steps have been taken it becomes impossible or extremely difficult for them to be reversed, as human communities become “entangled” in increasingly complex relationships with the plants, animals, materials, objects, ideas and practices that make up their worlds. The earliest Neolithic of Iran was explored through joint Iranian-British excavations at Sheikh-e Abad and Jani in the central Zagros, directed by Matthews, Matthews and Mohammadifar. The development of ceramic technology is of major significance in our understanding of the prehistoric communities of Iran and its neighbours. The final millennium of the Iranian Neolithic sees a major expansion of farmer–herder communities across Iran and into adjacent regions.
