Pre–Islamic era There have been several artefacts discovered in Bukan dating back to between 4100 BC and 4400 BC. These artefacts confirm that Bukan was home to one of the first human settlements on the
Iranian Plateau.
Islamic era The city was part of the
Mukriyan principality from the late 14th century to the 19th century. As the principality declined, aristocratic (
agha) Dehbokri Kurds, who controlled many surrounding villages, took control over the city. The Dehbokri were staunchly against the Mukriyan principality. Despite its small size, Bukan played a major role in the region culturally and politically. In the mid-1940s, the city was incorporated into the short-lived
Republic of Mahabad and acquired a printing press and Kurdish books and magazines were published. Later, the town experienced a peasant revolt wherein the peasants succeeded in forcing the aristocrats out. The revolt was ultimately put down ruthlessly by the army. The people of Bukan took part in the
Iranian Revolution in 1979 and in the subsequent Kurdish movement for autonomy. On 15 April 1988, Bukan was bombarded by the
Iraqi Air Force, in which 19 people died and 160 were wounded. ==Demographics==