University of Guilan Caspian Journal of Environmental Sciences 1735-3033 24 2 2026 04 01 Ancient symbols and regional biodiversity: Unveiling the world’s oldest flag: A historical review and interdisciplinary approach integrating archaeozoology, archaeobotany, and conservation disciplines 549 572 9438 10.22124/cjes.2026.9438 EN Zohreh Moradi University of Hormozgan, Bandar Abbas, Iran Ghazal Esmaeili School of Architecture Urban Planning, Polytecnico Milano Hamid Reza Esmaeili Zoology Section, Biology Department, School of Science, Shiraz University, Shiraz 7146713565, Iran Journal Article 2026 02 11 Ancient symbols, manifested through motifs in art, architecture, pottery, and other material culture, provide critical insights into the historical relationships between human societies and their environments. Many of these symbols depict regional flora and fauna, reflecting the biodiversity prevalent in specific ecological zones at different times in history. These motifs often served multiple functions spiritual, social, and ecological symbolizing deities, mythological creatures, or natural elements central to cultural identity. Analyzing these symbols allows for the reconstruction of past biodiversity patterns and ecological knowledge systems. They frequently encode information about species of ecological and cultural significance, serving as indicators of historical species distribution and abundance. The Flag of Shahdad, an ancient artifact unearthed at the archaeological site of Shahdad in Southeastern Iran, stands as one of the earliest known examples of flag-like objects in human history. Dating to the third millennium BCE, this artifact offers valuable insights into the cultural, social, and political dynamics of early civilizations on the Iranian Plateau, as well as regional biodiversity. The flag consists of a rectangular bronze plate measuring approximately 22 cm in height and 15 cm in width, mounted on a 128-cm metal axle allowing the flag to turn. At its top is an eagle with outstretched wings. The central portion of the bronze plaque features a series of intricate motifs and patterns, including: (i) symmetrical and repetitive geometric designs demonstrating high-precision craftsmanship; (ii) artistic representations of plant life (floral patterns) possibly symbolizing natural elements;<br />(iii) depictions of animals (faunal figures) that may hold cultural or symbolic significance;<br />(iv) representations of human figures, potentially reflecting societal or ritualistic themes; and<br />(v) abstract, non-representational artistic elements highlighting the artisans’ creativity. In this study, by integrating archaeological evidence, historical documentation, archaeozoology, archaeobotany, and comparative analyses, we demonstrate how ancient cultures identified, classified, and interacted with their surrounding ecosystems. This interdisciplinary approach contributes to a deeper understanding of long-term human-environment dynamics, elucidates the ecological worldview of past societies, and highlights the profound connections between biodiversity and cultural identity. Such integration underscores the importance of combining ecological and cultural perspectives in archaeological research, enriching fields such as archaeozoology, ethno-zoology, archaeobotany, ethno-botany, and conservation science.<br />  https://cjes.guilan.ac.ir/article_9438_ffb569fe5e0bdb431bb534e62b30a77c.pdf