TEHRAN -- The first archaeological excavation within the historic urban fabric of Birjand has uncovered architectural remains provisionally attributed to the late Timurid period (late 14th–15th centuries AD), alongside pottery assemblages representing several phases of the Islamic period. 
The discoveries, made at Baharestan Citadel, offer new archaeological evidence for the development of one of eastern Iran’s historic urban centers.
The excavation was undertaken in the historic Sardeh neighborhood, east of Birjand’s old town, close to the historic Shokatiyeh School. The project was conducted by Birjand University, in collaboration with the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts of South Khorasan Province, under authorization from the Research Institute of Cultural Heritage and Tourism.
According to Ahmad Barabadi, director-general of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts of South Khorasan Province, archaeological investigations had previously been conducted at several sites elsewhere in the province, including Qaen, Ferdows, Tabas and Nehbandan, but the historic urban fabric of Birjand had remained largely unexplored.
Under the direction of Muhammad Farjami, the archaeological team opened a 5 × 5 m trench in the citadel’s courtyard to investigate buried cultural deposits and architectural sequences. 

The most substantial architectural discovery was a mud-brick wall measuring approximately 1.3 m in width and 6.4 m in exposed length. Constructed using mud mortar, the wall incorporates bricks measuring approximately 6 × 28 × 28 cm and 6 × 13 × 28 cm. 
Its considerable dimensions suggest that it may have belonged to a relatively large structure, although its precise function remains undetermined.
The pottery assemblage provides further evidence for the site’s occupation history. Preliminary assessments identify material dating from at least the eighth century AH (14th century AD) through to the Qajar period. 
Finds include blue-glazed bowls decorated with black-painted designs, blue-and-white wares and fragments associated with ceramic production. Notably, kiln waste was also recovered, raising the possibility of pottery-related activities in the vicinity. Animal bones constitute another component of the assemblage.
The excavation also identified pottery fragments potentially dating to the early centuries of the Islamic period, although their chronology requires further specialist analysis. Taken together, these finds suggest a more complex occupational history than the surviving above-ground architecture alone would indicate.
The month-long fieldwork involved 19 archaeologists and archaeology students. Further ceramic analysis, architectural assessment and comparative studies are expected to refine the chronology and interpretation of the site.
Registered as a national heritage monument in 2001 (No. 3683), Baharestan Citadel, also associated with the name Bagh-e Zereshki (Zereshki Garden), preserves architectural elements from later historical periods.