Iranian and Polish Archaeologists Collected 15,000 Pot Sherds from Bolaghi Gorge

24 April 2005

The joint team of Iranian and Polish archaeologists have collected some 15,000 potsherds from one of the ancient sites of Bolaghi Gorge behind the Sivand Dam which will be flooded in one year time.

The 18-kilometer gorge is located 8 kilometers from the World Heritage Site of Pasargadae in Fars province. Some experts believe that the site has been the location of the major ancient road of Iran connecting Persepolis to Susa. Remains dating to the cave dwelling period, to the prehistoric times, up to the Islamic times have been discovered there.

According to the Iranian head of the joint team, Ali Asadi, all the pot sherds scattered over the surface of the site have been collected. “Preliminary studies show that the pot sherds are not very sophisticated, which shows that at the time the works were created, local governments ruled the area,” explained Asadi.

The pieces are all beige, and experts are now busy categorizing them and separating the regular ones from the noteworthy ones.

The Sivand dam constructed in the Bolaghi Gorge is to be flooded by next year, drowning all historical monuments and artifacts remaining there. Salvation attempts are now underway by different joint teams of Iranian and foreign experts, including Polish, German and French experts who are at the time working in the area. An Italian team also excavated Bolaghi Gorge, finding a village dating to the Achaemenid era.