LONDON,
(CAIS) -- An Iranian expert on environmental issues
has criticized the incursion of livestock into protected
areas including Choghazanbil Ziggurat which he said has
created problems for the region.
Speaking to ISNA, Noshad Rokni, who is involved in the
Choghazanbil Protection Project, further said that the
monument itself faced no direct threats except from
explosives which are detonated in the area for a number of
reasons. However, he noted, some other problems are also
posing indirect threats to Choghazanbil.
“When the pastures are turned into farmlands, tribal
people have no alternative but to graze their cattle near
protected zones such as Choghazanbil, which, in itself, is
harmful for the region,“ he said.
Rokni further stated that Chogazanbil Ziggurat and its
surrounding mounds face environmental risks, not to
mention that they date back to three thousand years ago.
After the 1970s, extensive changes took place in the area;
irrigation networks were installed and three sugarcane
factories were built around the historical monument, he
noted.
The expert also complained that heavy vehicles pass over
the mounds to reach the factories, which are destructive
for the mounds.
Commenting on the other historical sites surrounding
Choghazanbil, Rokni said that there are various historical
mounds in the vicinity of Choghazanbil dating back to the
pre-historic era, which may include more significant
edifices than Choghazanbil.
“For example, Deh-e Nou Mound, located opposite
Choghazanbil, is under threat of destruction due to rain
and has not been explored yet,“ he said.
Some archeologists maintain that a ziggurat is situated
there while others believe that it contains a number of
monuments, noted Rokni.
Deh-e Nou is a mound pertaining to the Elamite era.
He said that radioactive dusts from the Persian Gulf war
have also damaged the monuments.
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