Yafteh Cave

Yafteh Cave is a prehistoric cave in Lorestan Province, near Khorramabad, on the slopes of Mount Yafteh in the Zagros Mountains. As part of the prehistoric sites of the Khorramabad Valley, it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2025. Yafteh Cave lies along the Khorramabad–Kuhdasht road, in an area called Soleyzeh. Although its interior is not very large, it is of exceptional archaeological importance.

Yafteh Cave dates to the Upper Paleolithic period, between 35,000 and 28,000 years ago. The first excavations were carried out by Frank Hole and Kent Flannery in the 1960s, and from 1384 (2005) an Iranian-Belgian team led by Marcel Otte and Sonia Shidrang continued the work. Numerous C14 samples, bladelet tools, and ornaments made of shell, teeth and hematite have been found there, pointing to the Aurignacian culture. In addition, colored images (pictographs) dating to around 40,000 years ago have been identified in the cave, reflecting the beginnings of art and the growth of early human communal life.

Geographically, Yafteh Cave is set in mountainous terrain covered with oak, hawthorn and astragalus (gavan) shrubs. The surrounding area is also home to species such as hares, foxes, wolves, partridges and wild boar. For visitors, a road allows access by car to near the foot of the mountain, and a short footpath with a fairly gentle slope leads to the cave entrance. The best time to visit is spring and early autumn, when the weather is mild and suitable for light exploration and nature walks. Although a visit to Yafteh Cave appeals mostly to those interested in history and archaeology, nature lovers also enjoy it because of its natural setting and the mountain scenery around it.