Karun River Changing Course in the Past 6000 Years - CAIS Archaeological & Cultural Daily News of Iran©

Studies undertaken by a group of Belgian scientists suggest the Karun river has taken a central course, abandoning its westward course over the last 6,000 years.

Head of the Khuzestan cultural heritage department Mina Alizadeh said the findings were made last February as a Belgian expedition carried out research in the area.

The fragile, sedimentary nature of the Khuzestan soil as well as the swelling of Karun as the largest river in the area meant that it changed course, giving rise to new cultures being formed on its banks.

A joint team of Iranian and Belgian experts conducted studies on the Persian Gulf coastlines and the river’s banks in order to identify the natural environment of the province.

They concluded that the Persian Gulf coastlines used to push deeper into the Iranian mainland in the past.

Carbon dating is scheduled to be carried out on the finds made in the area so that to pinpoint the age of the environmental changes.

The Belgian group is slated to return to Iran in September to further continue their research.

Khuzestan is a large province replete with major ancient historical sites.

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