Ancient Catacomb Discovered in Southwestern Iran - CAIS Archaeological & Cultural Daily News of Iran©

Local people in a remote village in the southwestern province of the Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari province has recently discovered a catacomb believed to be 500 years old which contained evidence of ancient human settlement.

Head of the provincial cultural heritage department Ardeshir Akhundi said the catacomb was found a while ago as a mosque in the Haruni village was restored.

“It is a 1.5 hectare labyrinth with a depth of 5 meters with evidence of livestock bones and ovens,” Akhundi noted.

He remarked in the Safavid time and even prior to that, the area was a routine path of bandits. The villagers used to dig tunnels beneath their homes and farms in a bid to protect their family members as the bandits struck, he continued.

The cultural heritage department intends to reinforce the catacomb’s corridors so that tourists can visit it.

The Haruni village is 35 kms from the provincial capital Shahr-e Kord. The old tunnels are now being used as storage by local villagers.

The newly found catacomb can provide valuable information regarding the human settlement in the area in the past.

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