Sivand Project will Drown 174 Ancient Sites

20 June 2005

With identification of 45 new historical sites behind the under-construction dams and irrigation tunnels of Fars province, the total number of ancient sites to be drowned by new dams of Fars reaches 174.

According to expert with Fars Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization, Alireza Asgari, preliminary studies in irrigation project sites have led to the identification of historical sites, hills, and key remains from the prehistoric, Sasanid, and Islamic times.

“We are faced with important historical remains in lakes behind these dams, especially those of Salman-e Farsi and Mollasadra, which can answer many questions regarding the Sasanid era. They moreover can provide a clear picture of the cultural relations between the northern and southern areas of Fars province,” an expert studying the sites behind dams, Iraj Mohammadi, told CHN.

The projects of the two dams were launched nearly ten years ago and they will finally be flooded this coming winter. The rest of the dams are also flooded in the coming years.

Archaeologists have no more than 7 months to save the historical remains of the area. Studies so far have been just primary works, and no detailed surveys have yet been launched.

Of these 174 sites, some 129 are located behind Sivand Dam, in Bolaghi Gorge, which will be drowned by flooding of the dam by the end of the year. Right now, Iranian and foreign joint teams are busy with the salvation project of these sites.

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