Tehran, 19 December 2006 (CHN Foreign Desk) -- Archeologists in northwest Iran succeeded in unearthing another cuneiform brick inscription in Assyrian language during their excavations in Rabat Tepe II in West Azarbaijan province. With this discovery, the number of Assyrian brick inscriptions discovered in northwest Iran reached three.

 

Announcing this news, Reza Heidari, head of archeology team in Rabat Tepe, told CHN that studying these three inscriptions will provide archeologists with valuable information regarding the historical civilization and chronology of the area, especially during the Mannai and Urartu governments and their relations with the Assyrian Kingdom.

 

Rabat Tepe is located near the town of Sardasht in West Azarbaijan province, northwest Iran. Archeologists believe that the hill used to be the center of Musasir Government some 3000 years ago.

 

Archeological excavations in this historic hill started since September 2005 to find traces of Musasir government in northwest Iran which was concurrent with Urartu and Assyrian governments. Prior to the start of the excavations in the area, it was assumed that Rabat Tepe spans over a 14 hectare area but further excavations revealed its area to be twice what originally thought.

 

The first season of archeological excavations in Rabat Tepe resulted in discovery of 180x180 square centimeter flagstones which resembled those found in Ancient Rome. Statues of winged goddesses and a naked winged goddess, never seen before in any historical sites of Iran were also unearthed by archeologists in Rabat Tepe. The discovered objects are mostly dated to the first millennium BC and more likely belong to the Urartu government.

 

 

Soudabeh Sadigh

foreigndesk@chn.ir