Archaeologists

Working on the Parse-Pasargadae Project, experts found out stones used in Persepolis had been quarried from some mines located in the Marvdasht plateau.

“Over the past year, we have discovered 11 mines in the highland area, all pointing to the fact that they had been the main source for different kinds of stones used in Achaemenids’ palaces,” said Hamid Amanollahi, head of the research team in Marvdasht.

He added the archaeologists are going to continue their studies on the stones at Shiraz University, south of Iran, to see if the same quarries have provided construction material for other historical monuments in the vicinity, including Pasargadae. Amanollahi noted the results of these studies will be published in upcoming months.

Persepolis, situated some 40 m. N.E. of Shiraz, not far from where the small river Pulwar flows into the Kur (Kyrus). The site is marked by a large terrace with its east side leaning on Kuh-e Rahmet ("the Mount of Grace"). The other three sides are formed by a retaining wall, varying in height with the slope of the ground from 14 to 41 ft-' on the west side a magnificent double stair, of very easy steps, leads to the top. On this terrace, there are the ruins of a number of colossal buildings, all constructed of dark-grey marble from the adjacent mountain. The stones were laid without mortar, and many of them are still in situ. Especially striking are the huge pillars, of which a number still stand erect. Several of the buildings were never finished.