CAIS
The Circle of Ancient Iranian Studies
[ Home ]
[ About CAIS ]
[ Articles ]
[ Daily News ]
[ News Archive ]
[ Announcements ]
[ CAIS Seminars ]
[ Image Library ]
[ Copyright ]
[ Disclaimer ]
[ Submission ]
[ Search ]
[ Contact Us ]
[ Links ]
|
.CAIS ARCHAEOLOGICAL & CULTURAL NEWS OF IRAN© |
|
Hassanlou Heritage Trapped Under Rural Houses
|
|
10 March 2006 |
LONDON, (CAIS) -- Over 100 houses in Hassanlou and Aminlou villages are located within the boundaries of the historic Hassanlou Hill, ISNA reported.
Making the remarks, head of Hassanlou cultural heritage base, Hossein Razzaqi,
suggested that the ancient hill be delineated.
“It is a necessity to determine the hill’s boundaries from six dimensions
since many historical objects are laid beneath rural houses,“ he noted.
Razzaqi regretted that no archeological operations had been carried out in the
ancient hill since 2002.
Razzaqi observed, “Excavation operations at the hill will become possible only
after a cultural heritage base is established and guards are deployed there.“
The current Hassanlou archeological base is not near the hill making the start
of excavation operations difficult, the official expanded.
Razzaqi stated that about 200 million rials had been set aside for the project,
“however, we’re still short of funds for purchasing a parcel of land for the
base.“
The expert recalled that test pits had been excavated at northern and southern
sections of Hassanlou Hill in the current year (started March 21) to mark out
the boundaries.
The official reiterated that Hassanlou and Aminlou houses are sitting on
historic artifacts. “Even a number of ancient objects came to the surface
while the villages were being provided with waterway canals recently,“ he
pointed out.
Razzaqi, however, stressed that no constructions are allowed near 100 houses to
be purchased by Iran Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization.
Hassanlou Hill is situated 12 km off Naqadeh in West Azarbaijan province.
It sits to the southeast of Orumiyeh Lake. The hill encompasses six
stratigraphic layers dating from the sixth to first millennium BC. Hassanlou
Hill plunged to the verge of oblivion after the collapse of Imperial regime in
1979 due to the official apathy as well as the Iraq-imposed war. It was just in
2001 when a series of restoration and preservation activities were conducted in
the hill.
Archeologists had discovered remnants of architectural structures, potsherds as
well as other objects at the hill. They date back to different historical
periods including Iron Age and Brass Age, the Achaemenid dynasty as well as the
Post-Achaemenid and the Mogul dominations.
|
|
|
"History is the Light on the Path to Future" |
|
Encyclopaedia Iranica
The British Institute of Persian Studies "Persepolis Reconstructed"
The British Museum
The Royal Asiatic Society
|
