Iran intends to urge international experts to help prevent historical sites located in Balaghi Gorge near Pasargadae from sinking under water.

The 18-km-long gorge is situated 4 km down the world heritage site of Pasargadae, part of the Achaemenids’ capital city. Now plans to build a dam pose a formidable threat for the whole region.

“Since the project is overwhelmingly vast, we intent to issue an international plea for experts to help us. We expect all academic institutes in the world to welcome the recall,” said Mohammad Hassan Talebian, head of the project.

Right now a group of Iranian experts are drawing up a salvage plan for the historical sites near Pasargadae and it is expected that they finish their plans in a couple of weeks. Iranian utility officials have announced plans to build a dam in the area, south of Iran that would inundate the gorge and its surrounding areas, all rich in unearthed artifacts.