Numerous Ancient Sites Identified in Western Iran

Date: 12 August 2018 - 21:49

News ID: ۵۶۲۳۳

TEHRAN (Dispatches)-Archeological explorations in the Shur Dasht enclosure (Dasht-e Shara’) led to the identification of 73 ancient sites and 8 monuments, including mosques, castles and bathrooms.
"The first season of archeological explorations in the Dasht-e Shara’ was conducted by Hamedan General Department of Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism after receiving a permit from the head of the Research Institute of Cultural Heritage and Tourism”, said Zeinab Qassemi, head of the archeology team.
The exploration was conducted with the aim to review previous archeological studies, analyzing the settlement patterns, examining the role of environmental factors on the formation of settlements in different periods and registration of important works in the National List of Monuments. She added.
The Qara Chai River and the fertile fields in this plain have been the appropriate ground for the formation of settlement in different periods, and said that the first season of exploration was conducted in Shur Dasht (Shara’) in the form of survey which led to the identification of 73 ancient sites and 8 monuments including mosques, castles and bathrooms, she said.
She went on to say that 19 sites have been previously registered in the List of National Monuments and at present registration files 62 sites are getting prepared to be presented to the general department for the registration of the cultural heritage.
The head of the archeology team said that the oldest period identified dates back to the Copper and Stone era with their specific pottery as well as the old Bronze Age with the Godin IV or Yanik culture pottery.

She noted that during the first phase of the systematic exploration in Dashte Qahavand (Shur Dasht) also settlements belonging to the Iron Age, the Seleucid, the Parthian, the Sassanid and the Islamic eras were identified.