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CAIS ARCHAEOLOGICAL & CULTURAL NEWS OF IRANIAN WORLD© |
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Inscriptions Found in Haft Tepe Ready to be Deciphered
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02 August 2006 |
LONDON,
(CAIS) -- Experts of Haft Tepe project have succeeded in
restoring 60 clay tablets which were discovered in this historical site during
archeological excavations carried out by the Iranian-German joint team.
According to the experts of Haft Tepe project, some 300 clay tablets in
cuneiform and Akkadian languages belonging to the Middle Elamite period were
discovered during the joint excavations by the Iranian archeologists and Mainz
University of Germany in Haft Tepe. These inscriptions were discovered under the
floor of a room which seems to be their original place. All these clay tablets
had a cubic rectangular form but were different in size.
Behzad Mofidi, head of excavation team in Haft Tepe believes that these
inscriptions are the official documents of Kabnak historical city in Haft Tepe
dating back to some 3500 years ago which were archived in the southern part of
this city.
Archeological evidence revealed that the place where these inscriptions were
kept must have been set on fire either deliberately or unintentionally which
resulted in destruction of the documents including the list of the storage
devices.
The clay tablets suffered serious damages due to the fire, humidity, sediments,
and other natural causes over time and needed to be restored. The priority was
given to those which were in a better condition, hoping that they can be
restored completely.
The study on the restored clay tablets will be undertaken by Professor Doris
Prechel, ancient eastern linguist of Mainz University in Germany. It is
anticipated that the outcome of these studies would reveal some important
information about the civilization of Haft Tepe historical site.
Haft Tepe, literary translated as “Seven Hills”, is an archeological site
situated in Khuzestan province, southwest Iran. Haft Tepe is known to be the
remains of the Elamite city of Kabnak which was discovered in 1908. The site is
between Susa and Tchogha Zanbil and dates back to the 15th century BCE. Three
parts have been identified so far during archeological excavations in this
historical site, including a temple with the royal tomb, the palace area, and
the artisans’ quarter.
Haft Tepe was first surveyed by the French archeologist, Jacques de Morgan in
1908. The site was excavated in the period from 1965 through 1978 by a mission
led by the renowned Iranian archeologist, Ezzatollah Negahban. Since 2003,
excavations have been carried out by a team of Iranian-German archeologists,
headed by Behzad Mofidi.
This large Elamite site, composed of many individual mounds, forms an imposing
mass rising about the surrounding plain. The ancient remains of Haft Tepe have
long been a prominent feature of the Khuzestan Plain. This is one of the most
important historical sites of Iran.
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Source: CHN
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"History is the Light on the Path to Future" |
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Encyclopaedia Iranica
The British Institute of Persian Studies "Persepolis Reconstructed"
The British Museum
The Royal Asiatic Society
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