Explorations Start in the First Sasanid Capital - CAIS Archaeological & Cultural Daily News of Iran©

An archaeological team has started field studies in the ancient Rigi Tepe near Firouzabad in the southern Fars province in a bid to setting the perimeters of the area, conducting stratigraphical analysis and discovering pre-historic clues. The team is headed by Reza Nowruzi who oversees work by a number of experts.

A Fars cultural heritage department official noted the Rigi Tepe was in dire circumstances as a result of threat from local farmers. “The archaeological team has started to gather information from the pre-historic times in order to set the perimeters of the site,” Mosayyeb Amiri said.

The first season of explorations is expected to last 45 days with further studies expected over the coming months.

Firouzabad is known for its rich repository of Sasanid sites. Called Shahr-e Gur in the past, it was designated as the capital of the Sasanid dynasty when Emperor Artaxerxes founded it in 226.

The city is located in a circular plain which is accessible only through the Tangab passageway which channels the Tangab river into the plain.

During the reign of the Sasanid king of kings, Firouzabad witnessed many developments and was considered one of the five key areas of the pars region.

Copyright © 1998-2009 The Circle of Ancient Iranian Studies (CAIS)