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TEHRAN - The
fourth stage of archeological excavations have
been launched on the "Burnt City" in
Sistan-Baluchestan Province in southeast of
Iran, the Cultural Heritage Organization
announced Saturday.
The Burnt City
with a history of about 5000 years is among
the largest ancient sites in the Middle East.
The ancient site, which spreads out over 151
hectares of land, is comprised of the various
industrial and residential units, cemetery and
monumental establishments.
Archeologists
last year discovered establishments of the
Burnt City in a span of about 1000 square
meters during 400 meters of excavations.
According to
the head of the archeological team, Mansour
Sajjadi, the discovery of hundreds of clay
human and animal statues lends further proof
to the idea that the place was once used to be
a temple.
The statues,
measuring 8 to 10 centimeters, have been
discovered as either being scattered in the
establishments or in groups in certain areas.
Experts believe
that the discovery of a large number of seals
and calculation devices further proves that
the site in addition to being a religious
place used to be a place for economic purposes
as well.
Signs of
civilization, first laid down in the Burnt
City in 3200 B.C., remained intact up to the
years 2100-2000 B.C. and during four
successive periods in history.
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