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LONDON, (CAIS) -- Despite the high importance of wine production structures dating back to Sassanid dynastic era (224-651 CE) as one of the most unique discoveries in Bolaghi Valley, no measure has been undertaken yet for transferring them. This is while with inundation of Sivand Dam, these unique historical evidence will be submerged forever.

“These Sassanid wine production structures were unearthed during three seasons of archaeological excavations in area number 64 of Bolaghi Valley and are among the most unique architectural structures have ever been discovered in Bolaghi Valley. However, despite their significant importance they have not been transferred from Bolaghi Valley,” said Ali Asadi, Iranian head of Irano-Polish archaeology team in Bolaghi Valley.

Irano-Polish joint team in Bolaghi Valley succeeded in discovering four structures which were used for wine production during Sassanid dynastic era in their excavations in area number 64 of Bolaghi Valley. However, among these four structures only one can be transferred to another place. 

“The four structures are consisted of 4x2.5 meters pools which were constructed with plaster, compressed lime. Among these four structures, one has remained almost intact and can be saved. These wine production pools were made out of a gentle slope and grape juice were poured in wine jars through a canal,” said Asadi to Persian service of CHN.

According to Asadi, plant archaeology studies on the discovered seeds inside the jars approved the existence of grapes in these jars during ancient times.

Prior to this, Parse Pasargadae Research Centre succeeded in transferring two 7000-year-old clay kilns from Bolaghi Valley, which are currently been kept in this centre.

Regarding the current situation of these discovered wine production structures, Asadi said: “Due to growth of a special kind of tree called Band, two of these structures have been somehow destroyed and only one structure which compare to the other ones is smaller is size has remained almost intact. Since this structure was supposed to be transferred, its jar has not been unearthed yet. Although with unearthing the jar, the small pool will be destroyed as well.”

Area number 64 is one of the most prominent areas in Bolaghi Valley, where some valuable discoveries have been made so far. With inundation of Sivand Dam, this area will be completely submerged.

Bolaghi Valley, located 4 kilometres from the World Heritage Site of Pasargadae in Fars province, is one of the most important archaeological sites in Iran where a large number of historical evidence including the remains of a village belonging to the Achaemenid dynastic era (550-330 BCE) have been discovered. With the flooding of Sivand Dam which was recently built in Bolaghi Valley, hundreds of historical relics unearthed so far would be submerged. With the cooperation of Sivand Dam authorities and Parse Pasargadae Research Centre, some joint teams from Iran and foreign countries have started the salvation project of Bolaghi Valley to save the main historic and archaeological remains of this ancient site before the inundation of the Dam.

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