Introduction
Qosheh Tut Hill, located in Saleh Abad, North Khorasan, is one of the region’s significant archaeological sites. It lies 12 km from Saleh Abad and 77 km northeast of Torbat-e-Jam, along the road connecting two major cities of Khorasan Razavi. This site was officially registered as a national monument of Iran by the Khorasan Razavi Cultural Heritage Office on July 15, 2003. Notwithstanding this, previous studies have been limited to only preliminary identifications, a comprehensive examination of this topic is lacking. To reconstruct the settlement history of Qosheh Tut Hill, a systematic study of its surface data was deemed necessary. This research employed a structured and statistically grounded methodology covering all areas of the site. A sampling strategy focusing on index samples was adopted, and the study was conducted in three stages: grid mapping, sampling, and documentation of findings. Initially, a preliminary site map was created, dividing the hill into 25×25-meter grids. Selected squares were then sampled, and all available cultural materials were systematically collected, analyzed, photographed, and subjected to typological comparison. The significance of this research lies in its examination of Khorasan’s cultural influences on neighboring regions and its exploration of the area’s role as a hub for cultural interactions. Furthermore, such studies contribute to understanding the continuity of prehistoric and historical cultures in this strategically located and ecologically rich region.
 
Methodology
This research adopts a historical and comparative approach to analyze the Qosheh Tut site. Data collection involved both fieldwork and library research. During the field study, surface samples, particularly pottery, were systematically collected and analyzed. The collected specimens were then classified typologically and chronologically to provide a clearer understanding of the region’s historical and cultural characteristics. As a foundational study, this research not only enhances our understanding of the past but also serves as a basis for future archaeological investigations.
 
Findings and Conclusion
Analysis of the pottery typology and its comparison with neighboring regions indicate that Qosheh Tut Hill was first settled during the Chalcolithic period as a small village. However, typological evidence from this period is relatively scarce. The site saw extensive habitation during the Bronze Age, when it developed into a larger settlement. Pottery from this period corresponds to various phases of the Bronze Age and shares significant similarities with the Bronze Age cultures of Turkmenistan, particularly Namazgah III and IV. Additionally, evidence of pottery linked to the Balkhi-Marvi culture was identified. During the Iron Age, Qosheh Tut Hill exhibited a continuous sequence of settlement, reaching its peak in terms of population and cultural activity. The Iron Age pottery from the site is the most abundant among all periods and closely resembles cultural artifacts from regions beyond present-day Iran, particularly the Yaz I culture of Turkmenistan. Comparative mapping and typological studies suggest that the prehistoric pottery of this region was significantly influenced by the Yaz culture and the prayer areas of Turkmenistan, followed by the Balkhi pottery tradition of Afghanistan. Furthermore, important cultural connections are evident with interior Iranian sites, including Shahr-e-Sokhteh in the southeast, Gorgan, Bojnourd, and Dargaz in the northeast, Neyshabur in the east, and Tepe Hesar in central Iran. These findings underscore the extensive transcultural interactions that shaped the prehistoric cultural landscape of the region.