Major Iron Age Finds Made in Central Iran - CAIS Archaeological & Cultural Daily News of Iran©

The first season of archeological explorations in the historical Qoli Darvish Jamakaran area near Qom in central Iran came to a close with significant finds regarding the Iron Age.

Head of the Qom cultural heritage department said in this season, the perimeters of the area was set and set up four explorations workshops in the various spots on the hill. Kazem Arab noted stratigraphical analysis along with preliminary studies on the available data have rendered major results.

“These findings indicate the Qoli Darvish Jamakaran site was a center of civilization settlement in the second period of protoliterate era (the first half of the third millennium B.C.) in the Iron Age and a nexus of trade and communication in the urbanization period on the western margins of the central plateau,” he noted.

To this head of the explorations team Siamak Sarlak added stratigraphical analysis revealed 14 phases of the cultural Iron Age spanning 1200 to 700 years B.C.

“Some relics from the historic and Islamic period have been found in the site. However, it is impossible to pinpoint their date due to severe destruction of archeological layers,” Sarlak noted.

The findings suggest the people of the time had scored considerable advances in fields of architecture, metal melting and bronze alloys as well as arts and crafts like pottery and agriculture and husbandry.

Remains of Several metal foundries have been found in the area, Sarlak pointed out. The major construction material used in buildings as suggested by their remains is adobe, while lime mortar had been used for isolation of walls, floors and some utensils.

The discovery of a number of metal ware lends support to the theory about the prevalence of the metal works in the area.

In addition, the diverse construction materials and techniques suggests there had been a sophisticated urban community with professional jobs and a social hierarchy.

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