|
Studies in Haft Tapeh in Khozestan province show
the arch of the tomb of Tepti-Ahar, the Ilamite King, as the
oldest arch in Iran.
Archeologists so far believed that Ctesiphon (Kisra) arch,
belonging to the Sasanid era, is the oldest arch in Iran, but
more research on the old arches of the country has proved them
wrong, determining the arch of Tepti-Ahar’s tomb as the
oldest.
According to head of the archeology team of Haft Tapeh, Hamid
Fadai, no such important arch has ever been discovered in other
parts of Iran. The arch lacks specific techniques and has a
simple primitive form in comparison to other arches in Chogha
Zanbil area that enjoy more detailed works, however, they are
built 150 years after the Tepti-Ahar’s.
The first excavations in Haft Tapeh go back to pre Islamic
Revolution time when architectural remains and items dating to
the fourth millennium B.C. were discovered by Dr. Negahban.
Those studies also led to the discovery of two hills, actually
two clay structures or as Negahban says two ziggurats, belonging
to the Ilamite era.
Throughout the past year archeological activities were carried
out in the site, explained Fadai: the trenches made in the
previous studies which were causing damage to the site were
filled by clay, the ditches made for excavation were also filled
to make the exact documentation of the area possible, its
documentation was completed and some preservation works were
carried out.
According to Fadai, the coming year’s programs will focus on
preservation of the historical site, and based on geophysics
data, some limited excavations will also be made to provide the
experts with information on unknown corners that will help the
task of preservation.
Tepti-Ahar tomb is the most significant structure of Haft Tapeh
and the only one that has so far been unearthed intact. A large
number of the historical structures of the area, however, remain
a mystery to be solved by experts and archeologists.
|
