Province of: Gilân

n recent archaeological excavations in the Gilan province, 60 archaic sites representing ancient civilizations were unearthed in Farab Amaloui district on the outskirts of Roudbar.

Announcing this, Director General of the Gilan province Cultural Heritage Department Mojtaba Taqavi told IRNA here on Wednesday that in the recent research excavations, archaeologists discovered 60 ancient sites, which are eligible for registration.

"A cave, a prehistorical rocky hideaway, a hill covered by residences, ancient graveyards and a number of archaic monuments were identified and surveyed," he added.

Taqavi said that the archaeologists came across thousands of ancient objects, which are currently being examined.

He said that the objects belonging to the Medes and Achaemenid civilizations dating back to the first millennium BC are of high cultural, national and research value.

Experts believe that the antiquity of the recent discoveries consisting of swords, bayonets, arrow heads, coins, rings, earthenware and household tools date back to the early civilizations in the province.

According to specialists, assessment of the recently obtained artifacts, has opened a new source of information for the researchers of Iranian ancient civilization, given that they elucidate the ancient Iranian customs, traditions and lifestyle.

Surveys and discoveries made in recent archaeological excavations show that the civilizations which developed on the southern coastline of the Caspian Sea date back at least to 3,000-4,000 years BC.

The unearthed artifacts consist of ceramic, tin, iron and glass ware and decorative gray glossy beads. The geometrical designs carved into some objects manifest special customs and cults of the era.

Moreover, some of the discovered objects, which are covered with a combination of several animals integrated into one another as a single creature, such as one with a dog's head, sheep's body and donkey's ear, represent the beliefs and customs of the era.

The metal objects are mostly a combination of iron and tin decorative ringlets making bracelets, earrings and ancient armaments consisting of swords, knives and daggers.