Archaeologists Pollock, Bernbeck and Abdi report on their 2003 excavation at Tol-e Ba^si, Iran, near Persopolis. After an explanation of the history of archaeology in Iran as it pertains to this project, the authors describe the dig and catalogue the finds. They situate the site in terms of history and geography as well as studying the ecology or the area. Most of the finds were from several strata of the Neolithic period. They are listed by composition: stone, clay, bone etc. This is followed by the results of scientific analyses of plant remains, other organic traces and radiocarbon dating, which averaged at six to seven thousand years ago. A cautious ethnographic summary is presented, based on the finds, although the intended use of some miniature cylindrical objects is still uncertain. The conclusions are summarized in a Farsi appendix. This is a thorough, professional report. Distributed in North America by the David Brown Book Co. Annotation ©2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
