Luristan

A region of the central Zagros mountains on the border of west-central Iran, where a distinctive bronze-working industry flourished 2600-600 BC. It is characterized by horse trappings, utensils, weapons, jewelry, belt buckles, and ritual and votive objects of bronze - which became most distinctive around 1000 BC. Scholars believe that they were created either by the Cimmerians, a nomadic people from southern Russia who may have invaded Iran in the 8th century BC, or by such related Indo-European peoples as the early Medes and Persians. The immigrants grafted onto a population of Kassites who had already developed a bronze industry around 2000 BC. Important Luristan sites are Tepe Giyan and Tepe Djamshidi, Tepe Ganj Dareh, Tepe Asiab, Tepe Sarab, Tepe Guran, and especially Tepe Sialk. Many bronzes were placed into museum collections as a result of persistent looting of tombs from the 10th-7th centuries BC. Iron also appears at an early date in the Luristan tombs.

A region of central western Iran, best known for the bronze industry of the area in the early 1st millennium bc (the so-called Luristan bronzes). The area has produced evidence of early farming sites (seeTepe Ganj Dareh, Tepe Asiab, Tepe Guran and Tepe Sarab) and of later prehistoric settlement (see Tepe Giyan). Perhaps undue prominence has been given to the later bronze industry, which reached museum collections as a result of persistent looting of tombs dating from the 10th to the 7th centuries bc. The bronzes of this period include weapons, horse bits and trappings, vessels and ornaments, often decorated with designs based on animal and human figures. Iron also appears at an early date in the Luristan tombs. A settlement of the period of the bronzes has been excavated at Baba Jan.