Qal’eh Haidari/Khezerlu, a prehistoric, protohistoric and historical site in the Siyah Cheshmeh plain, north-western Iran

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This article discusses an important site located in north-western Iran, not far from the border between Iran and Turkey. The site, called Qal’eh Haidari or Qal’eh Khezerlu, is a fortified complex located on a highly strategic natural rock spur overlooking the Siyah Cheshmeh plain. The surface finds collected there indicate that this is one of the longest occupied sites in the whole region. This circumstance is due to the importance of its position, on one of the main communication routes between the Lake Van and Lake Orumiyeh basins. A visit to the site provided an opportunity to re-evaluate its architectural features, among which stands out a remarkable rock-cut stepped tunnel, built to supply water to the fortified complex.