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The
second season of archaeological studies in the historical
city of Decius, in Jiroft, in central Iranian province of
Kerman, reveals that the city has been a large population
center with more than a hundred passages and squares.
Decius dates back to the time of the Saljuq dynasty and
stretching 12 square kilometers, it is considered one of
Iran's largest cities of Islamic era. According to head of
the excavation team Hamideh Choubak, part of the public
passages of the city, paved with flagstones and seemingly
public buildings at both sides, have been discovered.
The excavations reveal the city to have more than one
hundred quarters and one hundred squares, which show how
vast and economically, politically, social and culturally
important the city was during the Seljuk era, explained
Choubak.
Some studies were also carried out in the nearby cemetery
where three types of burial were identified. “In an area
of just 100 square meters in the cemetery we found 10
graves, which is considered a sign of the large population
of Decius” said Choubak.
The discovery of city's public bath, with more than 12
separate sections and a special royal sector, was another
outcome of the second round of archaeological studies.
The excavations in Decius have so far just covered two
thousand square meters of its 12 square kilometers area,
and archaeologists believe that a detailed study would
require more than a hundred year of continuous work.
Decius has been one of Iran’s trade and economical
poles, having connections with eastern countries. Marco
Polo, the world famous Italian traveler, also refers to
Decius in his travel diary as a large and glorious city of
the time.
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