.

CAIS ARCHAEOLOGICAL & CULTURAL NEWS^©

03 September 2005

Daqyanus, one of the biggest and most populated Islamic cities of Iran located near Jiroft, is under threat by farmers plowing the area.

The Islamic city of Daqyanus belonging to Seljuk era (around 900 years ago) located north of Jiroft city in Kerman province is one of the largest historical Islamic cities in Iran.

"Agricultural lands are going beyond their boundary around Daqyanus and are getting closer and closer to the historical site, threatening this ancient city," says Hesam Arefi, head of the Cultural Heritage and Tourism department of Jiroft.

He added, "Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization of Kerman has set up a base to guard the historical site of Daqyanus, but the agricultural lands are getting closer to the site everyday."

Daqyanus is more than 12,000 square kilometers wide, but by now just 2000 square meters of it have been excavated. According to what archaeologists say, more than 100 years of continuous work is needed to complete the studies of the site.

During Seljuk era, Daqyanus was a business and economic hub of Iran connected to eastern countries of the region. Marco Polo, the famous Italian globe-trotter in his itinerary described Daqyanus as a splendid city.

"History is the Light on the Path to Future"

Encyclopaedia Iranica

The British Institute of Persian Studies

"Persepolis Reconstructed"

Persepolis3D

The British Museum

The Royal

Asiatic Society