Iran - 5000 Year-old Jiroft Civilization Was Overpopulated

18 January 2005

Archeological excavations in the historical sites of Jiroft in the central province of Kerman has revealed that the area faced over population some 5000 years ago.

Seven residential areas have been discovered during the second week of the third season of excavation in Jiroft, which is an indication of the large population of the area 5000 years ago.

So far 100 historical sites have been unearthed by the Halilrood River in Jiroft, Kerman, with stone and clay items and architectural remains dating to the third millennium BC, being proof of a rich civilization as vast as the Sumerian one of Mesopotamia.

The joint team of Iranian, French and American archeologists has found seven residential areas, all made of clay, near the governmental structure of the ancient site, head of the team, Yusef Majidzadeh told CHN.

Everywhere in the historical areas where the archeologists dug, remains of residential areas were found, which according to Majidzadeh, are evidence of the large population of the area some 5000 years ago.

During the two previous seasons of work, architectural remains, the most important of which are a great governmental structure and a 4300 year-old Ziggurat, were discovered. Archeologists also found some carved stones which they believe can lead them to the discovery of stone workshops.