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16
September 2001
Tehran
- A team of Iranian archaeologists started the
first phase of the five-year long project on
Kolourz and Javin valleys on the outskirts of
Sefidroud River in Gilan Province.
Following
the joint Iran-Japan agreement, the ongoing
project is being executed jointly by a group of
archaeologists from Japan's Center for Middle East
Culture and a team of Iranian archaeologists
headed by Jabrail Nowkandeh.
Collecting
objects, installing necessary probational
tranchets at selected sites, conducting
anthropological research on nomadic life patterns
(summer and winter residentials), examination of
and research on the artifacts available in Rasht
Museum, and preparing archaeological maps are
among the programs to be implemented by the
Iranian-Japanese team, Iran's Cultural Heritage
Organization (ICHO) reported.
Iran-Japan
relations date back to Sassanid era, and according
to archaeologists, some objects available at
Japanese Museums are said to have been taken to
Japan from Iran, most probably through the Silk
Road and via China.
The
existence of such objects accounts mainly for
Japan's interest in getting involved in
archaeological research in Iran.
The
research conducted by various centers for Middle
Eastern studies, and different universities since
50s until 1979, stopped after the Islamic
Revolution and the imposed war due to local
obstacles, whereupon most Japanese archaeologists
switched their research to Turkey, Egypt, Syria,
and Jordan instead.
Recently,
once the joint Iran-Japan agreement was signed up,
and a definite framework was set up for
archaeological research, the process of serious
joint cultural activities got underway.
Source:
Tehran
Times
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