German Archeologist Resumes Firouzabad Excavations

News Category: Sasanian Dynasty

Following three decades of inactivity, research studies and excavations at the historical site of Firouzabad, Fars province, was recently taken up by a renowned German archeologist, Dietrich Hoff.

According to ISNA, Dr. Hoff was involved in excavations at Firouzabad prior to 1979.

He is currently working with an Iranian team led by Dr. Leili Niakan at the historical site which dates back to the Sassanid dynastic era (3rd-7th centuries AD).

Excavations will be conducted in the area in several stages.

Director of the Cultural Heritage and Tourism Office in Firouzabad Omid Pirouz Daqouqi-Esfahani said that the objective of the excavation is to identify the lofty ideals of Emperor Aredeshir Babakan (Artaxerxes), founder of the Sassanid dynasty who was a prominent personality.

“The excavations also aim to explore the access roads constructed  by Artaxerxes and the methods he employed to supply water for drinking as well as for irrigating the farmlands,“ he said.

Esfahani said that the archeologists are also seeking to determine the emergence of a residential town of Veh-Ardeshir which is encircled by a moat.

They want to find out the central part of the town and its tower as well as the access routes.

He said that the excavations will lead to unearthing structures from the Sassanid dynastic era as well as a number of monuments which still remain buried.