Avash News: Sepehr Zarei, head of the archaeological team and deputy director of the Hormozgan Cultural Heritage Office, stated that the excavations were carried out in two stages—from July to September and from October to November 2025—and included field surveys and detailed documentation of archaeological findings.
Zarei noted that Dehtal is widely known for its diverse collection of petroglyphs carved into large, semi-circular limestone boulders. Artists of the late prehistoric and historic periods engraved various human and animal motifs, abstract patterns, and even later Pahlavi inscriptions on these rocks.
He added that excavations conducted 25 years ago revealed large expanses of hand-carved stone tools. The Dehtal cultural zone covers approximately 400 hectares across the Godeh region and the central part of Bastak County, located about 80 kilometers from the northern shores of the Persian Gulf.
According to Zarei, the widespread presence of hand-carved stone tools suggests that Dehtal was repeatedly used by Paleolithic groups during the Lower and Middle Paleolithic periods—more than 200,000 years ago. The abundance of raw stone materials on the alluvial fan made tool production possible. Additionally, seasonal springs and natural ponds contributed to the suitability of the region for settlement.
Zarei further reported that several large stone tools—including hand axes, cleavers, and scrapers—belonging to the Acheulean cultural tradition have been discovered at the site. The Acheulean industry is one of the defining cultural phases of the Paleolithic era.
