Irrigation Channels of the Paradise of Pasargadae to be Restored - CAIS Archaeological & Cultural News of Iranian World©

LONDON, (CAIS) -- Parse- Pasargadae Research Center is determined to remove the layer of asphalt laid over an ancient road leading to the Pasargadae historical site in order to restore the original irrigation channels of its' ancient Gardens this historical site and to connect them together to revive their original pattern.

"We succeeded in discovery of different parts of Pasargadae irrigation channels so far which, to some extent, helped us find out how these channels directed water to Cyrus the Great’ Palace. While working on the path of these channels, we noticed that the asphalt road which leads to Pasargadae and is used for transporting tourists to this historical site is constructed over some parts of the irrigation channels, which is why we decided to remove the asphalt surface to be able to restore and revive the original path of the these canals," said Mohammad Hassan Talebian, head of Parse-Pasargadae Research Center.

The irrigation channels of Pasargadae were constructed with stone and are considered one of the ingenious feet of engineering methods invented by the ancient Iranians to lead water to their gardens known as Paradise and residential places. At present, the Persepolis restoration team is engaged with restoring part of the irrigation channels of Pasargadae that had not been buried under the asphalts.

"By removing the asphalt road of Pasargadae, no vehicle will be permitted to pass through this road anymore, and the road will be turned to a footpath. Also a new road will be contracted from a different direction to facilitate the tourists visiting the Pasargadae historical complex", added Talebian.

According to Talebian, restoring the irrigation channels of Pasargadae will give the visitors a chance to see the method of irrigation used during the Achaemenid dynasty (580-330 BCE), during their visit to Pasargadae historical site.

Pasargadae, a UNESCO world heritage site, located in Fars province was the first dynastic capital of the Achaemenids. Its palaces, gardens, and Tomb of Cyrus the Great, are outstanding examples of the first phase of imperial Achaemenid art and architecture and exceptional testimonies of the rich civilization of Iran.

For ancient Iranians, tree-planting was a sacred occupation. Strabo in accounts reports that "it was part of their [Persian] education: boys received instruction in this art in the evenings. And so it came about that this reverence was seated deep in the souls of even the lowest stratum of the people, the common soldiers."