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CAIS ARCHAEOLOGICAL & CULTURAL NEWS© ARCHAEOLOGICAL & CULTURAL NEWS OF THE IRANIAN WORLD |
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Experts to Study Ways to Save Sasanian Dam of Jareh
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13 October 2006 |
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(Click to enlarge)
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LONDON, (CAIS) -- Archeologists and experts from Iran’s Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization (ICHTO) are to start their studies on the 1700-year-old dam of Jareh (Jarreh), remained from the Sasanian dynastic era (224–651 CE), which is in danger of being submerged once the nearby Kuh-Shur Dam is inaugurated. Should the experts fail to find a solution for saving this Sasanian structure, one of the most spectacular evidence of ancient feet of engineering and architecture would drown forever.
The historical Jareh Dam is located 35 kilometers northwest of the city of Ramhormoz in the Iranian southwestern province of Khuzestan in a narrow valley over Shapur/Zard (yellow) River. The dam engineers had advanced knowledge about constructing the infrastructure for supplying water for irrigation and drinking purposes.
According to director of ICHTO’s Archeology Research Center, Hassan Fazeli-Nashli, the studies will be conducted under the supervision of one of ICHTO’s renovation experts, Mahnaz Sharifi.
Thus far, experts have not been able to come to a conclusion as to what to do with the ancient dam. Relocation of the Dam had previously been proposed as a solution by ICHTO experts, but the idea was rejected by some experts who argued that the Dam could collapse or lose its original shape if being moved.
Inauguration of the new dam by the Islamic Republic Ministry of Energy which is being purposely constructed close to Jareh Dam would not only submerge this Sasanian dam, it would also destroy many Parthian and Sasanian unexcavated sites which are located at a close proximity to Jareh.
The Jareh Dam is the most intact one of the five surviving Sasanian dams in the Ramhormoz. It is 20 meters in height, and the canals which led to this historic dam used to provide water to farmlands in the area and were in use for a long time.
The 17 century-old dam of Jareh was built with such an accuracy and strength that it could survive the ravage of time. The materials used in the construction of this Sasanian dam were strong enough to keep it on its feet for such a long period. Studies on this ancient structure revealed that egg yolks have been used for the construction of this dam in addition to gypsum and lime to give it extra strength.
The Sasanid dam of Jareh was pointlessly registered as a national heritage in 1999, making ICHTO responsible for its protection.
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Extracted From/Source: Cultural Heritage News Agency (CHN) Please
note
the above-news is NOT a "copy & paste" version from
the mentioned-source. The news/article above has been modified with
the following interventions by CAIS: Spelling corrections;
-Rectification and correction of the historical facts and data; -
Providing additional historical information within the text; -Removing any
unnecessary, irrelevant & repetitive information. All these measures have been taken in order to ensure that the published news provided by CAIS is coherent, accurate and suitable for academics and cultural enthusiasts who visit the CAIS website.
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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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