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07
December 2005
 Iranian
plateau has always been associated with
the origin of mining, metalwork and
metallurgy. The historic sites in the
plateau have kept the traces of early
metalwork practiced the inhabitants from 3
to 5 millenina ago.
The international ancient metalwork
and mining studies project In Iranian
plateau has jointly been pursued by
Germany and Iran in veshnoveh, Arisman ,
Anarak regions since 3 years ago.
The Iranian and German scientists
try to identify the metalwork skills and
crafts in the pre-historic eras, reported
Information center of Iranian cultural
heritage organization.
Surveying mining areas in veshnoveh
has revealed that the minerals of this
region were the major commodities for
inter-regional barter and trade at the
time and have played a vital role in
cultural developments in the Middle East.
 The field surveys and diggings are
being carried out in the center of Iranian
plateau, i. e . the region bordering on
Qazvin plain to the north west, Anarak to
the south east and southern highlands of
the Alborz mountain to the north east to
the far end of Esfahân plain.
The metalwork and mining span from
Neolithic era to one millennium B.C.
The head of
veshnoveh archaeological
expedition, Dr. Mahmoud
Mireskandari said: The village of
veshnoveh, south of Qom contains 3 ancient
regions such Chaleh qar, Laqehmorad
and Mazraeh where several very old mines
have been spotted there.
 More than 50 ancient mines have
been identified there which date back to
pre-historic eras and there are evidences
that prove the mines were exploited
seasonally, he added.
Viewing the porcelain objects
unearthed in the some of the mines, Dr.
Mireskandari said: the evidences
convincingly tell us that the objects were
used for worshipping and making vows and
in pre-Islamic periods the mines were
sanctuaries and considered as temple holy
places for ancient worshippers.
As carbon dating indicates the
discovered porcelain objects date back to
the Sasanians and Arsacid periods.
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