Tehran, 5 April 2007 (CHN Foreign Desk) -- Third season of archeological excavations in  7000- year -old Pardis Tepe in Gharchak  Varamin, Tehran province, started by  Iranian-  British joint team.  More than 80 percent of this historical site has already been  destroyed  as a result of  illegal excavations in the area  and activity of a nearby   brick factory. Prior to this, a number of unique historical relics including pottery wheels, necklace, bracelet and jewelries dating back to Iron Age and other historical periods had been unearthed during archeological excavations in the area.

 

Announcing this news, Hassan Fazeli Nashli, director of Archeology Research Center of Iran’s Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization (ICHTO) and head of excavation team of Pardis Tepe told CHN: “Pardis Tepe is considered as one of the most important historical sites in Terhan province  which dates back as far as 8000-year-old historic site of Cheshmeh Ali located in northeast of Tehran.”

 

According to  Fazeli Nashli,  some 20 thousand US dollars  has been allocated to this project, which would be  a great measure for  tracing different periods of history in Varamin region.

 

“Since important  cultural evidence belonging to the Iron Age has been discovered  so far in this prehistoric site during 10 days of excavations, archeologists are hope to find some more invaluable archeological information about Iron age in this historic site,”  added Fazeli Nashli.

 

Pointing out  that archeological experts from British universities including University of Leicester, Kingston University, and Durham University have cooperated with Iranian archeologists in  third season of excavations in Pardis historical hill , director of Archeology Research Center explained: “Different iron  ornaments  such as necklace and  bracelet  have been discovered so far in this historical hill which  indicate the existence of life  in this area during different  periods of history.”

 

He further  noted that: “Discovery of a  large number of  clay kilns  proved  that contrary to previous beliefs,  pottery was mass produced  during Sialk II period (just prior to 4000 BC) in this region.” Mentioning that discovery of  wheel pottery is  one of the most important discoveries  in this site, he stated: “This pottery wheel is made of a very strong  mud  and cylinder made of  animal’s horns.  Evidence  shows that the  initial process  of   clay production was done by this wheel and other designs were  accomplished  with hand.”

 

 “Prior to this, a small clay kiln belonging to Sialk III period was discovered by  Roman Grishman, French archeologist,  in Iran’s central plateau, which brings into light the importance of this new  discovery  for archaeologists.”

 

Mentioning that discovery of a spinning wheel and other industrial instruments in historical layers of Pardis Tepe reveal that this area was an industrial site during ancient times, director of Archeology Research Center further explained: “Some radiographic tests should be conducted on these findings to find more about this historical site.”

 

However,  according to experts  due to the lack of security and cooperation of authorities, 4000 square meters of this historical hill has demolished and only 3000 square meters  has remained.   

 

Lamented the fact that most parts of Pardis Tepe historical hill has destroyed due to activities of a nearby brick factory, Fazeli Nashli explained:   “Some invaluable historical information belonging to different periods of time have been lost forever and has changed to pieces of bricks due to activities of the factory in the region,”   

 

According to director of ICHTO’s Archeology Research Center, the perimeter of the excavated area is only 4 meters distance from the  area in which the soil is removed for producing brick. “Unfortunately most parts of this historical hill has leveled to the ground,” added Fazeli Nashli.  

 

Referring to the importance of this historical  hill in Iran’s central plateau, Fazeli Nashli added: “Municipality and governor office of Gharckak Varamin with cooperation of authorities of ICHTO should  do their best for preserving this historical hill with changing it to a museum park before its is destroyed completely,”

 

 Pardis historical tepe belongs to the fifth and sixth millennium B.C and the remains of a Parthian fortress (248 BC – 224 AD) can be seen on the upper layer on this historical hill. Cultural heritage experts strongly believes that the area has the potential to be turned into a museum park.

 

 

 

Ladan M. Sadeghioon

foreigndesk@chn.ir