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Among finds usually made at historical sites
worldwide are footprints of human beings and animals. In fact
the oldest of human traces are those found in Mesopotamia
estimated to go back to 4,000 years B.C.
The oldest human footprints in Iran, believed to be more than
3,000 years old, can be seen in Choqa Zanbil, an ancient
ziggurat in southwestern Iran.
There are four human footprints seen on the brick floor of the
historical Choqa Zanbil compound, believed to belong to children
as well as several animal footprints from the cats family.
Despite their significance, no scientific study has so far been
carried out on them.
A Choqa Zanbil expert Hamid Fadai said the human and animal
footprints which total ten had been imprinted when the brick
floor were drying up outdoors or in brick making workshop.
“During the last season of explorations, two footprints were
documented and mapped. However, little scientific work has been
done on them,” Fadai noted.
The size and depth of the footprints could provide clues as to
the height, weight and other features of those who had stepped
on the brick.
Studies on animal footprints could determine which animals used
to roam the area some 3,000 years ago.
Given their size, the four human footprints in Choqa Zanbil are
believed to belong to children between 10 to 15 years of age.
Located in the southwestern province of Khuzestan, the
two-storied Choqa Zanbil ziggurat is the remains of a huge
temple built by the Elamite king Untash Napirisha in the city of
Duruntash in the 13th century B.C.
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