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LONDON, (CAIS) -- While more than one year has passed since Eshkaft-e Salman otherwise known as Tarisha Temple, was found vandalised with paint, nothing has been done so far for removing paint from the body of the biggest Elamite cuneiform inscription.

Located in the city of Izeh in Khuzestan province, the prehistoric site of Tarisha is one of the most exquisite and valuable inscriptions denoted to the Elamite civilization (3400-550 BCE). It is also one of the first sites in Iran which was registered in the list of Iran’s National Heritage sites.

Despite all threats posed to this unique national heritage site during past year, no real measure has been done so far to protect it against possible damages. Private construction of a multi-storey hotel in the vicinity of the historical site has not only defied heritage regulations by introducing the cultural landscape of this national heritage site, it has also taken away the chance for world registration of Iran’s biggest Elamite inscription. Once informed, the provincial Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts, and Tourism Department took the case to the judiciary of Ahwaz, capital city of Khuzestan province.

However, considering the ownership of Izeh municipality over these lands in Tarisha, Khuzestan’s judiciary rejected the appeal and the case was taken to Iran’s Supreme Court. Since the case was not promptly followed by Khuzestan’s Cultural Heritage and Tourism Department through the Supreme Court, the Court voted in favour of the owner of the lands and construction of the hotel was resumed.      

Splashing paint on this Elamite inscription was the other threat to Tarisha worship place. Regarding the inappropriate condition of Tarisha inscription, Faramarz Khoushab, head of Cultural Heritage Enthusiasts Association of Izeh told Persian service of CHN: “Despite all oppositions made so far by Cultural Heritage enthusiasts and promises made by authorities for protecting this national heritage site against possible damages, nothing has been done so far in this regard.”   

According to Khoushab, writing and splashing paint is not just limited to Tarisha inscription and the nearby Elamite intaglios of Kul Farah are also intruded by vandals. That is why an emergency measure should be taken in this regard to protect these historic inscriptions before they suffer more damages.

Tarisha Temple is home to the largest neo-Elamite inscription ever found in Iran. The site also has four bas-releifs, two of which are inside a nearby cave. One of the bas-reliefs depicts a woman beside a man and priest in a traditional ceremony.

What is happening in the case of Tarisha is only one example of the many other cases of this kind where the country’s cultural heritage is victimized due to lack of protection and development projects. Same things have repeatedly occurred in other parts of the country and that is something Iran’s cultural heritage authorities must find a solution to before it afflicts the entire country. It seems introducing the high value of cultural heritage sites through public training and education people how to protect them as their own properties would be the most important step in this regard.

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