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CAIS ARCHAEOLOGICAL & CULTURAL NEWS OF IRANIAN WORLD© |
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Varamin’s Mil Mound to Undergo New Excavations
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13 May 2006 |
LONDON,
(CAIS) -- New
excavations will be conducted at Varamin’s Mil Mound after six years of
uncertainty about the continuation of archaeological works at the site. The site
has been named ’Iranian Acropolis’ due to its’ architectural features,
which resembles the Greek style.
According to Persian Service of CHN, the ancient site was one of the major
Zoroastrian religious and scientific centres, presumably an astrological and
astronomical research centre led by Zoroastrian priests.
Archaeological studies were conducted by a team led by Firouzeh Sheibani in 1999
and a German team had promised to undertake the protection of the site, but, no
agreement to the effect was reached between Iran and Germany.
Deputy head of Iran’s Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization’s (ICHTO)
Office for the Protection and Revival of Cultural Heritage, Qadir Afrovand said
that funds have been provided to continue excavations at the site.
Sheibani said that the site has unique features with seven surrounding mounds
and preliminary steps should be taken to remove dust and soil from the site.
She said that the six-year delay in archeological studies has left the
historical site in ruins.
In the meantime, Afrovand said that enough fund is available now to restore the
site and during the Norouz holidays to mark the beginning of the Iranian
new-year (started March 21). Cleanup operations were carried out and a new gate
was installed, he added.
Afrovand said that the archeologists, who have worked in the area so far, are
expected to resume excavation under Sheibani’s leadership given her knowledge
about the site. Otherwise, the studies cannot be concluded.
So far, Sheibani has expressed concern about inaction at the site in terms of
excavation studies.
She said that the site dates back to the Sasanid dynasty and early Post-Sasanid
era and also has relics from the transition from the Parthian dynasty to
Sasanids in the pre-Islamic period.
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"History is the Light on the Path to Future" |
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Encyclopaedia Iranica
The British Institute of Persian Studies "Persepolis Reconstructed"
The British Museum
The Royal Asiatic Society
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