This thesis examines the cultural developments of Dasht-e Lut (western edge of the Lut Desert, South-East Iran) from early fifth to early second millennia BC. Archaeologically, Dasht-e Lut is well-known thanks to the existence of the Bronze Age urban center of Shahdad where it is considered to be a meeting point in the Bronze Age networks of Southwest Asia. This study will develop a landscape approach to the studies of the human-environment interactions, settlement patterns and population changes on the west of Lut desert during Chalcolithic era and the Bronze Age. In this regard, a three season archaeological project (in 2012, 2013 and 2016) were carried out by the author in this area. The first season was an extensive archaeological survey on the Dasht-e Lut to identify the settlement patterns of the region through the ancient times. The second season of the project considered in stratigraphic excavations at two prehistoric sites in Shahdad area dating to 5th, 4th and 3rd millennium BC. And, the last fieldwork included surface survey and small-scale excavations at the early urban site of Shahdad. This archaeological research project brought to light new data for studying the Chalcolithic and the Bronze Age cultures of Dasht-e Lut which form the focus of this research. The proximity of Dasht-e Lut and Desert of Lut has led to the formation of a particular ancient desert landscape in the Near East. Drawing on the current work on the western edge of Lut Desert, the present research introduces a phenomenonal geological feature in ancient Near East named Kalut (natural hill in the desert landscapes) and discusses its relation with the prehistoric occupations in the study area. Also, studying the urban lay-out of Shahdad site and its formation processes is another subject matter of this thesis. Furthermore, the Bronze Age regional patterns of urbanization in the South East of Iran will be studied based on new data from Dasht-e Lut. This thesis provides a unique opportunity for studying the impact of desert environmental variables on the prehistoric and protohistoric settlement patterns.