LONDON,
(CAIS) -- Excavations will begin in the ancient city
of Zaranj (ancient Drangia) in Sistan va Baluchestan
province once necessary funds are made available.
According to ISNA Persian Service, the city served as the
capital of Sistan and was also known as ’old Zahedan’.
Several forts and ancient sites have been identified
across the city.
Ruins of the ancient city Zaranj located on a plateau near
Hamoun Lake point to the prosperity of the region as the
capital in ancient times and the pre-Islamic era.
Director of Zabol Cultural Heritage and Tourism Office
Mohammad Ali Ebrahimi said, “We are planning to register
some 50 historical monuments on the national heritage list
by the end of the year to March 20.“
Several relics including Shahr-e Sukhtah (Burnt City),
Khajeh Mountain and Dahaneh Gholaman have been proposed
for registration on UNESCO global cultural heritage list,
he said.
He also pointed out that a proposal to make Dahaneh
Gholaman a cultural heritage base was turned down. “Of
course it will be explored under the supervision of Shahr-e
Sukhtah Archeological Base,“ he noted.
Ebrahimi warned that the existence of the so-called
’120-day winds’ have eroded some of the edifices.
Referring to the prevalence of drought in the area and
destruction of plants, most of the relics in Zabol are
damaged by these types of winds.
Following the establishment of protection units in the
areas, illegal excavations have considerably decreased, he
concluded.
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