History to Revive at Historical Site of New Tehran International Airport - CAIS Archaeological & Cultural News of Iranian World©

LONDON, (CAIS) -- Remains of archaeological sites were discovered in the vicinity of Tehran's new international airport.

“By starting the executive operations in Safavid Zeid tomb we will learn the history of this region which extends from 3,200 years ago to the post-Sasanian period,” said Ghadir Afrvand, deputy director of the preserving and restoration department of the Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization of Tehran.

Afrvand also expressed hope that renovation of the historical sites which lie near Tehran International Airport (currently called Khomeini Airport) will turn the airport into a tourism destination in Iran.

New International Airport was constructed on the remains of hundred buried historical villages and buildings among which only Qach Qach Fortress belonging to the Safavid period, Zeid and Ebrahim tombs, and also the Iron Age Mamourin Tepe (some 3200 years ago) have been remained. Archeologists believe that these historical sites would reveal some important facts about the life of people in this area during the Iron Age. The first historical sites were accidentally discovered in new International Airport in 1989. Since then some archeological excavations have been done in this area which resulted in the discovery of more than 50 historical sites in the area of the airport and its runways.

The stratigraphy studies on Mamourin Tepe indicate that the surface layer dates back to the Iron Age while the lower layers are estimated to be even older. Mamourin Tepe which was considered as an important civilization crossroad during the Iron Age is now located in the area of the new Airport.

“Discovery of Mamourin Tepe is one of the most important events of archeological excavations during recent ages because it provided archeologists with some new information about the culture and lifestyle of people during the Iron Age, and unique gray clays which belong to the same period of time,” said Jafar Mehrkian, head of archeological excavation team at the new International Airport.

According to Mehrkian, discovery of gray clays with molding designs indicates the use of ploughshares in ploughing the ground which rejects the theory proposed by some archeology experts about the migration of people during the Iron Age.

Mehrkian also believes that discovery of cylindrical seals in this hill revealed the existence of a ruling system in this area during the Iron Age.

In addition, discovery of casting bars indicates the producing of metal and military instruments and sending them to the other parts of the country such as Qeitarieh in Tehran. According to what has been discovered in this historical site, Mehrkian believes that plaster was used in the architectural style of the people during that time. Besides, evidence of gardening and producing fruits such as grapes indicates the developed culture and architecture of the people during the Iron Age.

Due to the discovery of grey clays, Maamourin Tepe is considered a very important historical site since prior to this all the discovered grey clays were found in the cemeteries, but now they have been unearthed in a rich civilization center and residential area of human beings during the Iron Age.

Although Maamourin Tepe has been registered in the list of National Heritage, it was abandoned for a long time. Now with the start of new season of archeological excavations in this historical site, archeologists are hoping to achieve some important information about people’s life during the Iron Age and considering its close distance to Tehran, to turn it into one of the tourism attraction sites of Iran.