Ancient Route Connecting Yazd to Esfahan Identified - CAIS Archaeological & Cultural News of Iranian World©

LONDON, (CAIS) -- Archaeological excavations led to discovery of four historical road service centres on the route connecting Yazd to Esfahan and Fars. From the remains of Sasanian architectural style found in one of these road service centres, archaeologists concluded that these discovered places must have provided services to the travellers on these rpads during the ancient times.

“The remains of Sasanian architectural style can be seen in one of these road service centres. Therefore, we believe that most probably they were used on the roads which connected Yazd to Esfahan and Fars provinces,” said Nasser Babayi, expert of the Cultural Heritage and Tourism Department of Yazd province.

Road service centres provided some services to the passengers such as changing their horses, giving information to the travellers, and providing them water and other travel necessities during the ancient times. The also played the role of today’s police stations on the roads to provide road securities.

According to Babayi, the remains of clays belonging to the post-Sasanian period (651-850 CE) which came after have been discovered in the three other road service canters, and further studies on this historical site may reveal more historical evidence.

Babayi strongly believes that the discovered path between Esfahan and Yazd belongs to the Sasanian dynastic era. “While very little have been mentioned about this path in historical documents, Maxim Siro, the French explorer, has mentioned this road in his recordings. In his book, Siro has very accurately traced this road from Esfahan all the way to Nadushan, a city in Yazd province. However, the remaining of the road as he has identified in his book is incorrect,” explained Babayi.

Archaeological studies show that this historical road was extended between the city of Abadeh in Fars province from one side and Gavkhooni Swamp in Esfahan from the other side.

According to Babayi, the new road which is under construction by Iran’s Ministry of Road and Transportation between Esfahan and Yazd is somehow parallel with the ancient road. The new road will reduce the distance between these two cities to 7 kilometers.