Khorramabad Valley Joins UNESCO List as Iran’s First Paleolithic Site

Date: 12 July 2025 - 21:45

News ID: ۱۴۱۳۲۸

TEHRAN -- The Prehistoric Sites of the Khorramabad Valley has been officially inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee in Paris on July 11.
This marks Iran’s first Paleolithic site to be included on the prestigious list, highlighting over 60,000 years of continuous human presence in the rugged Zagros Mountains.
Situated in Lorestan Province, the Khorramabad Valley served as a vital cultural corridor linking the Iranian Plateau to Mesopotamia and Central Asia.
The UNESCO inscription comprises five major sites—Yafteh, Ghamari, Kunji, Gilvaran, and Gar Arjeneh—which together offer a rich cultural sequence from the Middle Paleolithic to the Chalcolithic period.
These sites reveal pivotal moments in human adaptation, from mobile Neanderthal groups to early Homo sapiens exhibiting symbolic behavior and later sedentary communities.
Led by Dr. Sonia Shidrang of Shahid Beheshti University, the nomination drew upon years of interdisciplinary research. Her excavations at Yafteh Cave uncovered symbolic objects such as marine shell beads and hematite pendants, redefining the region’s cultural significance and meeting UNESCO’s Outstanding Universal Value criteria.
“This valley bridges early Homo sapiens and Neanderthal worlds,” said Dr. Fereidoun Biglari of the National Museum of Iran. “The material evidence contributes substantially to our understanding of human evolution in Southwest Asia.”
Veteran archaeologist Dr. John D. Speth, who co-led early excavations in the region, praised the recognition as “long overdue,” citing the valley’s enduring importance to the global human story.
Now counted among iconic Paleolithic sites like Altamira, Zhoukoudian, and Bhimbetka, Khorramabad stands as a living testament to human resilience, creativity, and cross-species interaction—etched into the very stone of its ancient caves.
Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Reza Salehi Amiri hailed the inscription a “historic milestone for global culture”.
According to the minister, “The Khoramabad Valleys are not only of exceptional historical significance but also represent the earliest scientifically validated human habitation ever identified—dating back over 65,000 years.”
During the evaluation of Iran’s nomination file, the Chair of the World Heritage Committee reiterated three times that no other site of such verifiable antiquity has been confirmed anywhere else in the world, he said.
“This inscription is not just a triumph for Iran, but a profound event for all humanity and the global collective memory,” he stated.
Salehi Amiri said Iran is home to an unparalleled treasury of human heritage.
“With the momentum built in recent years, we project that each year for the next five decades, Iran could nominate and register one or more new sites with UNESCO. Our potential extends far beyond what has been inscribed so far—this is only the beginning of a bright path toward presenting cultural Iran to the global community.”
The minister also highlighted references in the UNESCO decision to the Falak-ol-Aflak Fortress, a historic citadel overlooking Khoramabad.
He confirmed that previously identified technical deficiencies are now being addressed, with full compliance expected by next year’s committee session.
“We anticipate that this iconic structure will be formally added to the World Heritage list as an extension of the Khoramabad Valley sites.”