Deep Cracks Endangering Taq-e Bostan - CAIS Archaeological & Cultural News of Iranian World©

LONDON, (CAIS) -- Once again another pre-Islamic Iranian historical monument is the victim of Islamic regime's animosity towards anything Iranian, which is the current source for the lack of coordination between two organizations. While, Alireza Anisi, deputy director of Iran’s Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization for Preserving and Renovation Affairs announced that the restoration of Taq-e Bostan has been started, the Cultural Heritage and Tourism Department of Kermanshah province and head of Taq-e Bostan Project deny this claim and say nothing has been done in this respect yet.

“We have started negotiations with some experts, asking them to start their studies on this historical monument as the first step for its restoration; however, the Cultural Heritage and Tourism Department of Kermanshah is not informed of these activities yet,” explained Anisi about the actions taken so far to restore Taq-e Bostan. This is while both the residents and the Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization of Kermanshah argue that whatever has to be done in the case of Taq-e Bostan should take place soon before a disaster happens.

Tectonic movement of the earth has caused some cracks to appear in Taq-e Bostan, especially on its ceiling. These cracks are getting wider due to water leaking through the stones; and more waste of time means more damages to this cultural heritage masterpiece.

According to Khadivi, although a few years ago some restoration works were carried on these cracks, since this action was not systematic, it did not solve the problem of Taq-e Bostan.

Since a few years ago, a group of cultural heritage experts have started working on a file about Taq-e Bostan in an attempt to inscribe this historical monument and its landscape in the list of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. However, they have encountered obstacles along the way, one of which was the construction of a railway system which would pass near this monument. The experts immediately expressed their concern and announced that Taq-e Bostan’s chance to be registered in UNESCO’s list would be reduced to zero if the transportation authorities continue on with this project. Aside from the threats posed by the railway, the cracks with have appeared in the walls and ceiling of Taq-e Bostan have become another major concern for these experts who have asked for the immediate restoration of this building before it is too late.