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LONDON, (CAIS) -- Archaeological excavations in Pardis Tappeh prehistoric hill resulted in identifying the most ancient industrial site in the Middle East which dates back to 7000 years ago. Archaeologists

believe that this prehistoric hill existed concurrent with Cheshmeh Ali region in Ray city, southern Tehran and northern and southern Sialk Tappeh in Kashan. 

With discovery of a large number of clay kilns and head spindles in this industrial site, the previous theory of Dr. Smith, head of the first archaeology team in 7000-year-old historic site of Cheshmeh Ali hill, indicating that the red clays discovered in this area are hand made, has been rejected. This new discovery has further revealed the secret about the technique which was implemented for making these unique red clays some 5000 years BCE.

In an interview with Persian service of CHN, Hassan Fazeli Nashli, director of Archaeology Research Centre and head of the excavation team in Pardis prehistoric site, who believes that the most ancient clay wheel belongs to this region said: “Three seasons of archaeological excavations in Pardis prehistoric site, 80 percent of which has been destroyed due to activities of the brick factory, brought into light the unique importance of this prehistoric site and the necessity for reorganizing its situation and protecting it against possible damages.”

Clay kilns, clay wheels, earthenware jars, and stone necklaces are among the most prominent discoveries in this historic site. However Fazeli believes that the residential settlement area of this industrial site, which could have provided archaeologists some invaluable information about people’s life during 7000 years ago in this region, has already been demolished and changed into pieces of bricks.

According to Fazeli Nashli, although large parts of this 7000-year-old hill has been devastated due to neglect of authorities of the brick factory, it is not still too late to save the rest parts which have still remained for next generations.

Pointing out the importance for delimiting Pardis region, head of archaeology team in Pardis added: “Archaeology team has also succeeded in discovering a cemetery belonging to the Iron Age when they were conducting sounding works in the surface layer of the region, parts of which have been seriously damaged by bulldozers of the brick factory. This discovery shows that some unique historical evidence must have been laid beneath this region which can provide archaeologists some invaluable information about the story of a secret civilization in this region during prehistoric periods.”          

Fazeli Nashli strongly believes that the only approach for saving this prehistoric site is changing it into a museum park, because in addition to its unique historical value, its soil has a high potential for breeding different kinds of trees and plants.

Mentioning that Varamin is a deprived region, Fazeli Nashli further expressed hope that with paying more attention to Pardis historic site and changing it into a tourism destination, the situation of the region would be greatly improved.

“For preserving the most ancient industrial site in the Middle East region, authorities of Iran’s Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization (ICHTO), municipality and city council of Varamin should cooperate to save it with changing it into a park museum. The time has come to bring archeo-anthropology science into force through using prehistoric and historic sites as a bed for cultural development and providing public facilities for the people of region,” added head of Archaeology Research Centre.

Pardis historical hill belongs to the fifth and sixth millennia BCE and the remains of a Parthian dynastic fortress (248 BCE-224 CE) can be seen on the upper layer on this historical hill. Cultural heritage experts strongly believe that the area has the potential to be turned into a museum park.

Last summer an international team consisted of experts from Lister University of Edinburgh, and University of Tehran conducted some excavations in the region which led into some valuable archaeological discoveries.

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