The Shahsavan are a pastoral nomadic people who have inhabited the Ardabil highlands and adjacent lowlands for centuries, moving seasonally between summer pastures on the Sabalan massif and winter pastures in the Moghan steppe toward the Caspian coast. Around Meshkinshahr, you can encounter their distinctive round felt tents (alachigh) and their flocks of sheep, goats, and horses, particularly during the spring and autumn migrations.
The Shahsavan are known throughout Iran for the quality of their textile work — their woven and knotted rugs, bags, and flat-woven kilims are among the finest in the country. Small markets in Meshkinshahr sometimes sell genuine Shahsavan crafts, though the best pieces are increasingly hard to find at reasonable prices. If you can make contact with a nomadic family (a local guide can help), spending even a few hours with a Shahsavan family offers an extraordinary window into a way of life that is rapidly changing.