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LONDON, (CAIS) -- Initial arrangements for launching the joint research project by a team of archeologists from Iran and Afghanistan entitled “From Zabol to Kabul” which has been under study for two years to identify the satellite villages of the Burnt City was prepared during the recent visit of the president of Afghanistan’s Kandahar University to the Iranian province of Sistan va Baluchistan.

“Discovery of the extent of Hirmand civilization and common cultural aspects between this region and the 5000-year-old site of Burnt City encouraged us to prepare the ground for some joint excavations by Iranian and Afghan archeologists, a project which was initiated about two years ago. The issue was suggested to the governor office of Sistan va Baluchistan province and the provincial authorities. Now after the visit of Qmar-al Din Seifi, president of the University of Kandahar to Sistan va Baluchistan province, the project has reached a practical level,” said Alireza Khosravi, head of Archeology Center of Burnt City, according to CHN (Cultural Heritage News Agency).

The area which was once home to the ancient civilization of Hirmand is one of the most important historical regions in the eastern plateau of Iran. Archeological excavations in this historical site, especially in the Burnt City revealed that Hirmand was the origin of many civilizations in the region. Some agricultural products such as grapes were first produced in this region and then were distributed to other parts of the eastern plateau.

“Archeologists say that for an unknown reason Burnt City came into an economic standstill during 2000-1800 BCE, which is why its inhabitants abandoned this historical city. However, they do not still know where they migrated to,” added Khosravi.

According to Khosravi, archeological excavations in satellite hills of the Burnt City started to determine the relation between these places to the Burnt City. Further excavations traced the satellite hills beyond Iran’s modern borders into Afghanistan.

Previously, due to security issues and the aftermath of the war in Afghanistan, studies near the borders of Afghanistan were not possible; however, it seems the time has come to start these joint excavations. During the visit of the president of Kandahar University to the Faculty of Archeology at Zabol University, Iran suggested launching of the joint excavation by archeologists of the two countries which was welcomed by Seifi and the project titled “From Zabol to Kabul” was approved.

Burnt City is one of the most important and valuable archeological sites in Iran, located in the southeastern province of Sistan va Baluchistan, 57 kilometers from the Iranian city of Zabol. It was a well-developed center some 5000 years ago. Evidence shows that Burnt City was a major center for pottery and jewelry making. The city experienced four stages of civilization and was burnt down three times, and hence it was called the “Burnt City”. The first excavations in this historical site began before 1979 revolution in Iran by Italian archeologists. Although Burnt City has so far undergone 9 seasons of archeological excavations, archeologists and historians have not been able to determine the ethnicity and language of the city's inhabitants.

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