The term ‘Amlash Culture’, has generally been used to designate the material cultures excavated at Gilan, an archaeological site of ancient Iran, and refers to a group of Iron Age pottery and metal executions with a strong visual character. Most of the Amlash pottery vessels, featuring zoomorphic decorations that were applied on paralleled metal wares of the Iron Age, are believed to have stylistically and typologically been inspired by bronze wares. Differing from its Luristan counterparts, Amalsh Iron Age pottery tradition favoured stag iconographies and incised dots as their conventional repertoire. Terracotta vessels of this type were clearly designed as pouring vessels, but they might have been used in a particular funerary ritual occasion.
