Tehran, 27 September 2006 (CHN Foreign Desk) -- Archeologists specialized in underwater excavations will be called in from across the world to cooperate in recovering and studying the remains of a shipwreck found recently in the Persian Gulf, provided that the Iranian cultural heritage authorities issue the permission. Initial studies on the ship which was discovered near the port of Siraf revealed that it was a merchant ship belonging to either the Parthian (248 BC - 224 AD) or Sassanid (224-651 AD) periods.

 

Announcing this news, Hossein Tofighian, director of the Underwater Archeology Research Center of Iran’s Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization (ICHTO) said: “Iranian underwater archeologists have the knowledge and capability to carry on with the excavations; however, it would be very helpful to use the experiences of other countries in this field.”

 

Considering that the shipwreck has been discovered far from the seashore and is sunken at a depth of 70 meters from the sea level and taking into account that underwater archeology in Iran has been limited to studies at relatively shallow depths, Tofighian emphasized that making use of the experiences and facilities of other countries could lead into considerably better and more useful results. He also announced the establishment of an underwater archeology center in the historic port of Siraf in a near future, provided that excavations of the newly discovered shipwreck turn out to be successful.

 

Tofighian said that the best time for excavation under the waters of the Persian Gulf is the second half of the (solar) year and added that the Archeology Research Center will try to provide the facilities for the excavations before wintertime.

 

Two weeks ago, local fishermen accidentally discovered the remains of a ship in the Persian Gulf. Following this discovery, experts of ICHTO’s Archeology Research Center were called in for further investigations. More than 40 ceramic jars with no handle or pointed base were filmed by an underwater robot sent to the depth of 70 meters. The ceramic jars were found scattered along the seabed which revealed the functionality of the ship as a merchant.

 

Archeologists believed that the result of this excavation could lead into a better understanding of the Ancient Iranian navigation and sea-commerce in the Persian Gulf.

 

 

Maryam Tabeshian

foreigndesk@chn.ir