Archaeologists Trying to Establish Function of Parthian Gharbaliz in Central Iran - CAIS Archaeological & Cultural Daily News of Iran©

The fourth excavation season of the historical area of Gharbaliz in the central province of Yazd has started and will continue for two months, aiming at the identification of its original form and its restoration.

Head of the archaeological team Dr. Azarmidokht Esfandiari explained that right now they are trying to repair and restore the architectural works damaged by climatic conditions, and afterwards the Archaeological and digging works will be carried out as usual.

She declared the work in Gharbaliz area very important and added that there may be a need for further excavations in the area’s vicinity and the cemetery nearby.

There have been various suggestions regarding the use of the ancient building; a school, a historical fortress, a residence, or most probably a religious monument or a temple for disciples of Mithraism (religious worshipping the sun) dating back to the Parthian dynasty

The results reached at in the three previous Archaeological seasons somehow confirm the theory of Gharbaliz being used for religious rituals.

The Gharbaliz area is located on the highlands of Lakhese mountain (part of Shir-Kuh), and the mountain besides the famous spring of Gharbaliz, which are considered two spiritual elements of Iranian prayers, stress the idea of the area being a religious site.

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