Tehran, July 12 (ANI): Archaeologists have discovered what is being dubbed as Iran’s largest Paleolithic area in the Mirk hill, located in the southern part of the city of Semnan.

The 4-hectare area, which dates back to the middle-Paleolithic era, has yielded numerous ancient objects belonging to Neanderthals.

“Studies show that Paleolithic people had been living in this region between 40,000 to 200,000 years ago,” Press TV quoted Hamed Vahdatinasab, head of the archeology team, as saying.

He added: “The area is very important in the sense that it is the largest of its kind in Iran and the Middle East and houses thousands of ancient stone tools.”

Vahdatinasab also said that the source of stone for the inhabitants was found 16-kilometers from the site in the hillsides looking onto Semnan.

The recent discoveries were made during archaeological studies in the natural hills of Delazeyan and Mirk, which were first excavated around 1984. (ANI)