Tehran, 9 April 2007 (CHN Foreign Desk) -- The cemetery of Babajilan dating back to the Iron Age (1400-550 BC) will be excavated by archeologists within two months. Illegal excavation in this site has already posed real harm to this 3000-year-old cemetery.

 

 “Since a large destruction have been posed to Babajilan historical cemetery due to activities of illegal diggers, an archeology team has been dispatched to the area by getting the approval of Iran’s Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization (ICHTO). However due to inappropriate climatic condition of the area and heavy rains and snows in the mountainous regions of Lorestan province, the excavations were wrapped up incomplete to be picked up later. During previous excavations archeologists succeeded in gathering some historical relics which were remained from plunders in the area,” said Ata Hassanpour, archeologist of Lorestan’s Cultural Heritage and Tourism Department to CHN.

 

Location of Babijilan in a mountainous region in Lorestan province has made the accessibility to this historical cemetery very difficult, which is why preservation of this cemetery against possible damages caused by illegal diggers, most of whom are local inhabitants is so difficult.

 

 

According to Hassanpour, different parts of this cemetery have been plundered so far by illegal diggers and the archeology team hopes to rescue the remains of historical relics which have been survived. “Bronze daggers, jars and earthen relics were among the objects which have been gathered in this historic site”, added Hassanpour

 

The excavations in this site will be supported by authorities of Lorestan province and a team of archeologists are in charge of carrying out excavations in this historic site.

 

Babijilan cemetery in Lorestan province which dates back to Iron Age (550-1350) is an evidence of flourishing of bronze industry in this province.

 

Ladan M. Sagheioon

foreigndesk@chn.ir