Youths cool down in the Cheshmeh-Ali natural spring pool

The Cheshmeh Ali cultural complex generally defines a Transitional Chalcolithic on the Central Plateau dating between 5500 and 4800 BC. Cheshmeh Ali ware is dated ca. 5500 BC. This painted pottery, also known as “Ismailabad ware”, is found across northern Persia as far west as the area around Kashan, near Isfahan, and Qazvin to the north of there.