Seventy Seven Historical Sites and Remains Discovered Near Pasargadae

13 April 2005

Seventy seven historical sites and remains have been discovered near the ancient site of Pasargadae, in Morghab plain in Fars province, from a wide time range, as old as the prehistoric time up to the Islamic era.

The discovered sites include 4 open archaeological sites, 12 caves and shelters, and 5 hills dating to the prehistoric times; 4 mines, 2 metal melting kilns, 3 dams, and 10 Tepes dating to the Achaemenid era; 7 open sites dating to the Sassanid era; 5 cemeteries, 10 open archaeological sites, 6 mills, fortresses and mosques from the Islamic times.

The new discoveries are of great importance to the archeologists working in Morghab plain, because as head of the research group of Pasargadae Complex, Rakhsani explains, they help identify the residential history and importance of the area.

Recently, some 129 other archaeological sites were discovered in another Pasargadae site, named Bolaghi Gorge, which will be drowned when the newly constructed Sivand Dam is flooded in one year time.

Pasargadae is the fifth Iranian site registered on UNESCO World Heritage List and is world famous due to its numerous historical remains including tomb of Darius the Great, Alexander prison, and the palace where Achaemenids received the public audience.