Darband Cave, Paleolithic cave in Rudbar County, Iran.
Darband Cave is a prehistoric site in Rudbar County featuring two connected cave sections: the larger Kavilgar chamber and the smaller Darband B chamber. Both sections sit in a deep tributary canyon of the Siahrud River with south-facing entrances.
Excavations in 2012 uncovered stone tools and animal fossils from the late Middle Pleistocene, establishing this as the earliest known human cave occupation in Iran. The discoveries show that early populations were present in this region during some of the oldest periods of human settlement.
The cave reveals how early people lived in this region and adapted to their surroundings. Researchers study the traces left behind to understand the daily habits and survival strategies of these ancient inhabitants.
The site sits in a deep canyon and requires some physical effort to reach the cave entrances by hiking up the ravine. Visitors should wear proper footwear and be prepared for steep and uneven terrain.
The cave contains numerous bear bones showing no signs of butchering, suggesting it served mainly as a natural animal den long before humans settled there. This discovery reveals how the site changed from animal shelter to human dwelling over time.
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