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CAIS ARCHAEOLOGICAL & CULTURAL NEWS© ARCHAEOLOGICAL & CULTURAL NEWS OF THE IRANIAN WORLD |
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Gilvan Archaeological Site Reveals its Secret
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20 September 2006 |
LONDON, (CAIS) -- With the end of another season of archeological excavations in Gilvan historical cemetery, northern Iran, archeologists have concluded that contrary to the previous beliefs, the culture of Iron Age was not imported to Iran and it must have had its roots in the northwestern parts of the country.
Some historical evidence belonging to the Bronze Age III, Iron Age II and Iron Age III, as well as Achaemenid dynastic era (550 BC-330 BCE) were unearthed from the disinterred graves in Gilvan cemetery.
In an interview with CHN, Reza Rezalou, head of excavation team in Gilvan historical site explained that 16 graves and 13 skeletons, large parts of which were destroyed due to activities of road contraction, have been discovered so far during archeological excavations in the area. “Among these 16 graves, one belong to the Iron Age I, nine to the Iron Age II, two to Iron Age III, and four graves date back to the Achaemenid dynastic era,” said Rezalou.
According to Rezalou, discovery of a communal grave belonging to the Iron Age II is one of the most important achievements during the salvation project at Gilvan historical cemetery.
“The unearthed clay vessels in these graves have strengthened the possibility that the culture of the Iron Age must have originated from northwest Iran, most probably today’s Ardabil province, and despite what had previously been thought, it was not spread to Iran from the northern parts of the Caspian Sea. The excavations have also resulted in traces of the Bronze Ages II and III in the area,” added Rezalou.
Rezalou stated that the recent discoveries have also rejected the previous theories that the technique of gray earthenware was imported to Iran from elsewhere and have revealed that, just like the Iron Age culture, this industry also has its roots in Iran.
Excavations by a team of archeologists started in the Gilvan cemetery a few months ago when construction workers accidentally discovered a number of ancient artifacts in the village of Gilvan located in the Iranian northwestern province of Ardabil (ancient Artavilla). It turned out that this place was the location of an ancient cemetery. Among the discovered relics were three gold coated metal daggers, 25 pieces of clays, ornamental beads, and several armaments plus the remains of a number of skeletons. The results of the excavations are expected to be published by Iran’s Archeology Research Center in a near future.
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Extracted From/Source: CHN Please
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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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