From the 1970s ownward archaeological investigations of the Qazvin
plain has been based on the excavatio.ns of the sites of Zagheh, Ghabristan and Sagzabad. The three sites are in close proximity with Zagheh lying two kilometres to the east of Sagzabad and Ghabristan about 300 metres to the west of the latter. The main objectives in the re-excavation of Zagheh in 2001 were to ascertain the settlement size of the site, demonstrate the craft areas of the site and collect radiocarbon samples to establish an absolute chronology. Eight trenches were opened, of which five reached virgin soil. This provides for a total area of 18 square metres with six meters of intact layres at the basal for the examination of stratigraphic deposits and remains as compared to the 1.5 square metres in the 1970s excavation. Based on the abailibale data it seems Zagheh covers a sigle period of Transitional
Chalco lithic period, while from the previous works it was suggested a Neolithic period for the lower layers of the site.The data from the 2001
Zagheh excavation are not sufficient for studying the structural context of the craft activities or for distinguishing types of kiln structures. However, the
identification of various types of craft by products such as slag and of different types of semi- finished and finished objects indicates the scale of production and the reorganization of craft production during the Transitional Chalco lithic period. Both direct and indirect evidence indicates the use of the kiln in ceramic production.
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