Tehran, 28 February 2007 (CHN Foreign Desk) -- A large earthenware vessel, most probably belonging to the prehistoric epoch, was accidentally found in the vicinity of Sialk Tepe, Kashan. The discovery was made while a local farmer was digging the ground to build a wall around his garden.

 

Having a 1.20 meter mouth, the discovered vessel is the biggest one which has ever been discovered in Sialk Tepe prehistoric site.

Announcing this news, Zahra Sarookhani, head of the cultural heritage center of Sialk Tepe, told CHN: “Currently the vessel has been transferred to Sialk research center by the archeology team who were conducting sounding works in the region to delimit Sialk Tepe for further studies.”

Discovery of this vessel shows that the extent of Sialk prehistoric city must have exceeded more than 100 meters from the hill, large parts of which have been destroyed due to construction activities in the region.

Sialk Tepe which dates back to more than 8000 years ago is one of the most important pre-historic sites in Iran, located in the city of Kashan, Isfahan province. Historic remains found at this ancient hill indicate that it was the residential area of many ethnic groups in the course of the history.

 

For the first time it was the French archeologist Roman Grishman who carried out some excavations at Sialk Tepe in 1956. During his excavations, Grishman succeeded in unearthing a giant structure which he called the brick structure of Sialk.

Sialk Tepe prehistoric site is now located inside the perimeters of Kashan surrounded by many residential houses constructed in the area illegally. Iran’s Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization is determined to clear up the area to enable archeologists to continue their research in the region.

 

Soudabeh Sadigh

foreingdesk@chn.ir