Geophysical Studies on the Longest Wall of Ancient Iran

24 March 2005

Archaeologists have innitiated a new series of geophysic studies in the immediate vicinity of the ancient wall of Gorgan, to uncover yet unknown architectural remains of the area.

The wall, located in the nothern province of Golestan is considered the longest historical wall of Iran, and the second longest in Asia after the world-famous ancient wall of China. Some believe that the two walls were built at the same period as fortifications against northern invaders.

The wall is 200 kilometers long and therefore, according to head of the Iranian Cultural Heritage and Tourism Office in Golestan, Mohammad Rabi’i, excavation to identify its ancient remains would take several years. The geophysic studies help archaeologists to find the buried ancient remains without digging, facilitating the later excavations, explained Rabi’i to CHN reporter.

So far some 40 fortresses have been identifed near the wall and scientists preparing for excavations of the upcoming archaeological season, plan to find more of them in the eastern wing of the wall which is yet unknown to them.

The wall ends to the Caspian Sea in the western part, but the other end is not yet discovered. Architectural remains and a fire temple dating to the Sassanid times are among the discoveries of archaeologists working on the site.

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