Tehran, 15 February 2007 (CHN Foreign Desk) -- Operations to build a horse racing track in the prehistoric site of Kaftarkhun resulted in complete destruction of large areas of this ancient site, located 4 kilometers west of the Fin Garden, close to the city of Kashan, Isfahan province. On the other hand, the eastern parts of this 45,000 year old Paleolithic site have seen irrecoverable damage due to blasting operations to extract stone from a nearby quarry.

 

Association of Cultural Heritage Supporters of Kashan has repeatedly voiced its concern over the negative outcomes of the use of explosives to extract stone in the area and the consequent strong vibrations caused by the operations. The Association has warned that continuation of blasting operations in the area could eventually lead into destruction of Soleimaniyeh Spring which has over 7,000 years of antiquity. Furthermore, it is likely that vibrations caused during the process would leave severe negative impacts on the historic Fin Garden that is located 4 kilometers away.

 

The prehistoric site of Kaftarkhun was first studied by archeologists in 2002 during which a number of stone instruments were found which point to a hunter-gatherer culture that was once predominant in the area.

 

Despite its historic importance, Kaftarkhun has not been registered as a national heritage by the Iranian Cultural Heritage Organization which is why the permission to start the operation was obtained from the Iranian Ministry of Industries and Mines without consulting with the Iranian cultural heritage authorities.

 

Dated to the Paleolithic Epoch, the area has been named Kaftarkhun (Kaftar meaning hyena) due to existence of rare species of hyena which live in the nearby mountains.

 

 

Maryam Tabeshian

foreigndesk@chn.ir