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In
the Age of skyscrapers, there are still people living in
mountains, in holes dating back to some 3000 years ago.
The ancient village of Maymand, near Kerman, with cold and
dry climate, is made of four or five-storey apartments
constructed within the mountain rocks, which display the
art of its people and mysterious architecture dating back
to some 3000 years ago.
The houses are holes carved in the volcanic mountain, each
with a hallway and rooms at each side for different
purposes, such as the living room with a stove in the
middle, stable for keeping sheep and storeroom. None of
the rooms have windows or chimneys, and since carving the
rocks is a hard task, no variety is seen in the
architecture style of the village.
Although one third of the houses of Maymand are left
abandoned, more than 142 people still live in the area and
continuity of life in the village is what distinguishes it
from its similar settlements.
The archaeological studies of the area show that people
resided there from some 3000 years ago; however, no exact
date is given as to the history of the village, but
because of its architectural features, it could not date
back to the time before the metal age.
The main occupation of its inhabitants is animal farming
and gardening in the nearby meadows during the eight
months of the year when the weather is fine. In the cold
season they return to their homes and make handicrafts,
which today is not that common anymore.
The national restoration project of the bizarre village of
Maymand, including research, restoration, introduction,
education, maintenance and preservation, has started since
last year; and according to head of the project Mahnaz
Ashrafi, so far the historical face of the village has
been given a lift up, a website is launched (www.maymand.org),
carpentry and blacksmith workshops, anthropology museum
and motels in the ancient abandoned mountain houses are
set up.
The team also intends to pinpoint the exact history of the
village in cooperation with Italian experts and to prepare
the file for the registration of the village on UNESCO’s
World Heritage List.
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