Discovery of Ancient Residences in Achaemenid Dahan-e Gholaman - CAIS Archaeological & Cultural Daily News of Iran©

During the 5th season of archaeological excavations in the historical site of Dahan-e Gholaman, archaeologists dug up 8 residential areas, consisting of rooms, and tower-shaped cubbyholes dating back to the Achaemenid dynastic era.

Dahan-e Gholaman was discovered in 1960 by Italian archaeologists near Zabol city. Historical site of Dahan-e Gholaman that dates back to the Achaemenid dynasty is located in the north of Zahedan the provincial capital of Sistan va Baluchestan near the border of Iran and Afghanistan.

Dahan-e Gholaman is one of the very few known Achaemenid sites with a religious complex. It consists of buildings set up on high lands, above agricultural lands, so that the houses would be protected against the threatening seasonal floods of Hirmand River.

“At the beginning of the excavations, we succeeded to open 4 workshops in this Achaemenid city. Continuing the excavations in the central yard of one of these workshops was followed by the discovery of 3 residential areas. The discovery of three rooms which most probably had an industrial use was the initial result of these excavations,” said Mansour Sajadi, head of the excavation team in the Burnt City and Dahan-e Gholaman.

The city includes 27 notable buildings such as a religious and an industrial one, and some residential ones, considered one of the major capitals and industrial centers of the Achaemenid times.

“We believe that some kinds of oil seeds were ground and their oil was extracted in these rooms. The oil was used for cooking and for religious ceremonies,” added Sajadi.

Dahan-e Gholaman temple stands near these rooms, which is why archaeologists believe that the oil provided in these rooms, might have been used in religious ceremonies.

“In one of the other workshops of this Achaemenid city the remains of a room have been unearthed, which there are four tower shaped cubbyholes in each corner of it. But more studies are still needed to determine the exact use of these areas,” explained Sajjadi.

One of the most important characteristics of this city is that the architecture of the city indicates that unlike other ancient sites. Dahan-e Gholaman was built based on plans.

The city is 1500 in 800 meters area, but archaeologists believe that it was one larger, with some parts destroyed and worn out due to sand storms and passage of time.

Dahan-e Gholaman is the second important historical site of Sistan va Baluchestan province, belonging to the Achaemenid dynastic era. The city was once one of the most important centers and one of the capitals of the Achaemenid dynasty.