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<< News >> Third 3500-Years-Old Site Discovered Behind Galabar Dam

Submitted by coldrum on Saturday, 07 July 2007  Page Views: 2429

Multi-periodCountry: Iran Type: Ancient Village or Settlement

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With discovery of the third 3500-year-old historic site belonging to Iron Age, behind Galabar Dam in Iranian western province of Zanjan, archaeological excavations in this area has entered a new phase. Nine graves, all dating back to the Iron Age have been discovered so far in this historic site.

Announcing this news, Abolfazl Aali, head of excavation team behind Galabar Dam in Zanjan told Persian service of CHN: “Since the surface of the discovered area is covered by clays, we can not say for sure whether this area is a cemetery or a settlement area.”

This is the third Iron Age site that has been discovered behind Galabar Dam. Prior to this one a historic site and a cemetery both belonging to the Iron Age were also discovered in the area.

In addition to these Iron Age sites, a historic site belonging to Copper Age (end of 5th millennium to the 3rd millennium BCE) have been also identified behind the Dam, where a number of 6000-year-old residential settlements as well as children graves have been discovered.

A fortress belonging to the post-Sasanian period (651-850 CE) is the other historic site which has been identified so far behind the dam on top of a hill. However, since only the foothill will be submerged by inundation of the edam and the level of water would not reach to the top of the hill, the fortress will remain like an island.

Due to existence of a large number of historical evidence in the area, archaeologists have demanded to extend the time for continuing their excavations in the area for another two months in hope to discover more evidence in the area. “With discovery of the third Iron Age site, we are determined to continue our excavations for another two months,” added Aali.

This is while Galabar Dam has already been inundated by the Islamic Regime’s minsry of Power, without permission from the Cultural Heritage and Tourism Department of Zanjan province. However, due to oppositions raised in this regard, authorities of the dam have made to stop their devastating actions, in order to allow archaeologist to conduct their excavations in the area.

Currently archaeologists have to use boat for carrying out their excavations in the Parthian-post-Sasanian fortress discovered behind the dam. According to Aali, Islamic Republic’s Ministry of Power has announced its agreement with continuation of archaeological excavations behind the dam.

cais-soas.
Contributor Bio for coldrum: Based in Milkyway, contributing since 2002. Favourite site: Avebury.

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"Third 3500-Years-Old Site Discovered Behind Galabar Dam" | Login/Create an Account | 3 News and Comments
  
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Over 200 ancient sites found in western Iran by coldrum on Monday, 04 January 2010
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Iranian archeologists have found more than 200 ancient sites in the country's western Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari Province.

"Excavations in Ardal town yielded some 212 sites dating back from the Middle Paleolithic to the Qajar eras," said head of the archeology team Alireza Khosrozadeh.

The team also found shards of pottery, stone pieces, cemeteries and ancient sites located on natural mounds.

According to Khosrozadeh, the majority of the discovered sites inhabited nomadic tribes of ancient Persia as well as Elamite and Islamic periods.

Despite nomadic habitations which are poor in historical and cultural remains, the few residential areas found in the region yielded stone and brick architectural remains.

Qajar gravestones and Parthian cemeteries were also found by the archeology team, CHTN reported.

http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=113906§ionid=351020105
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Seimareh Dam reservoir conceals archaeological goldmine by coldrum on Wednesday, 17 October 2007
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Seimareh Dam reservoir conceals archaeological goldmine

A team of archaeologists has recently identified 100 ancient sites at the Seimareh Dam reservoir in western Iran’s Ilam Province.


The sites have been identified as belonging to a whole array of historical eras including Neolithic, Bronze Age, Copper Age, Stone Age, Parthian, Sassanid, and early Islamic, team director Rasul Seyyedin Borujeni told the Persian service of CHN on Tuesday.

“The sites spread over a vast area. Thus we need a large team of archaeologists in order to begin salvage operations. The success of the project depends on the setting of priorities and the conduction of regular excavations,” he added.

The Seimareh Dam has been constructed over the river Seimareh and is located 30 kilometers northwest of the city of Darehshahr. The filling of the dam has been scheduled to commence by the end of the Iranian year (March 19, 2008).

Initial studies for the dam project began in the early 1970s and were completed in 1990. The double-arch dam has a concrete structure and a crest height of 180 meters above its lowest foundation.

http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=153787
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3000-year-old graves discovered at Galabar Dam reservoir by coldrum on Wednesday, 17 October 2007
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3000-year-old graves discovered at Galabar Dam reservoir

A team of archaeologists has recently discovered 24 graves dating back 3000 years during salvage excavations at the Galabar Dam reservoir in Zanjan Province, central northwest Iran.

The graves have been found in two Iron Age cemeteries which had been located previously. They have also identified numerous residential areas dating back to the same period as the graves near the ruins of a castle. The castle was built during the Parthian era (circa 250 BC-224 CE) and is also known to have been used during the early Islamic era.



The team has also salvaged many pottery and bronze artifacts, which are considered to be typical Iron Age III relics (c.750–c.550 BC).



“The Iron Age area consists of four tepes, two of which are conjoined and two separate at a distance of 100 meters from each other,” team director Abolfazl Aali told the Persian service of CHN on Saturday.



Much evidence of burials has been discovered in the area of the tepes. In addition, members of the team are currently excavating one of the mounds which has been found to contain architectural strata.



The team has previously discovered 6000-year-old skeletons of four children buried in a prehistoric manner in graves in the floors of the rooms of several houses.



In addition, grey and red pottery artifacts belonging to the First Iron Age (c. 1300–c.1000 BC) have been unearthed.



The filling of the dam with water began early last March and all these archaeological sites are gradually being devoured by the Galabar River.

http://www.mehrnews.ir/en/NewsDetail.aspx?NewsID=556779
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