Tehran, 10 December 2006 (CHN Foreign Desk) -- Excavations by a team of archeologists directed by Reza Heydari in Rabat Tepe, northwest Iran, resulted in the discovery of potshards dated to the advent of literature in the area.

 

The discovery, which according to Bahman Kargar, an archeologist with Iran’s Cultural Heritage and Tourism Department of West Azarbaijan province is unprecedented, was made at the banks of Zab River in the vicinity of Rabat Tepe 2.

 

Kargar also said that the artifacts found include earthenware with reverse edge, clay vessels with four handles, and stemware.

 

“Discovery of these artifacts extended the geographic boundary of the region in which clay objects dated to the advent of literary system have been found to west of Uromia Lake and Sardasht from Kermanshah. This is the first time since last archeological excavations in this region which took place 20 years ago that such evidence is observed in this area.”

 

Kargar expressed hope that more information could be extracted from new findings about the historic period which overlapped with the advent of literature in northwest Iran and said: “This period is considered a ‘cultural gap’ in the chronology of northwest Iran which will hopefully be filled through more studies.”

 

Rabat Tepe is one of the richest archeological sites of West Azarbaijan, a province in northwest Iran, dated to 1000 BC. Recent excavations in this ancient hill resulted in the discovery of a brick inscription written in cuneiform script, more likely in Assyrian language, written with white glaze.

 

Unique flagstones as well as bricks bearing bas-reliefs of naked winged goddesses have also been discovered during the previous stage of excavations at Rabat Tepe.

 

 

Maryam Tabeshian

foreigndesk@chn.ir