Cuneiform Tablets Discovered in Haft Tapeh

19 February 2005

Excavations in the historical site of Haft Tapeh in the southern province of Khuzestan has led to the discovery of seven mud tablets in Akkadian cuneiform language.

Iranian and German archaeologists working in the area are hoping that the new discovery help them uncover parts of the unknown history of the ancient city of Haft Tapeh.

During the latest season of excavation on the site, which lasted three weeks and wrapped up recently, few boring pits were made, but a great deal of artefacts, including the mud inscriptions were unearthed.

The tablets which are as large as a palm, count up to seven and are written in Akkadian cuneiform, explained head of the restoration workshop of Haft Tapeh, Hamid Fadae, adding that they are hopeful that after cleaning the tablets and fortifying their damaged parts, they would be able to decipher their texts.

The discovery of mud tablets is considered a major discovery in any archeological site,and their discovery in Haft Tapeh is evidence of the richness of this site of Khuzestan.

According to Fadae, before the Islamic revolution of 1979 in Iran, some other tablets were found on the site by Dr. Negahban, forming the basis of today’s information of the area.

The Haft Tapeh archeological site is located 2 kilometers from The Ziggurat of Choghazanbil, dating to some four thousand years ago.

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