Ancient Susa Craftsmen Used Tar for Various Purposes

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Elamite Period

Results of a research indicates that artists and craftsmen of the ancient Susa, made considerable improvements in casting tar in various shapes and making different vessels and decorations with tar.

Gol Behesht Taghva, who has recently completed her research and investigation on tar works in the National Museum, said, “In Susa, Mesopotamia, and Near Asia, bitumen and semi-solid tar were used in construction works as insulator and humidity control, or as glue and in some cases as disinfectant, colored substances, and fuel, but using innovative techniques, ancient Susa artists and craftsmen used tar for making tools and home gadgets as well as decoration.”

“Mixing tar with other materials in high temperature, the ancient Susa craftsmen obtained a stone-like substance which was used for making different things. Iranians knew tar from ancient times and existence of tar vessels in the National Museum bears testimony to this”, further said Taghva.

Considering the expansion and continuation of using tar in subsequent periods, she said that exploitation of tar mines of Western province of Lorestan has been limited to 4200 to 3200 BC Khuzestan tar which is known as “Mamatan” seems to have been used in Achaemenid era, as well.