Tehran, 8 July 2007 (CHN Foreign Desk) – It seems this time the tragedy of Jiroft is being repeated in 3000-year-old Milajard historic site in Isfahan province. Lack of planning and providing financial support for conducting rescuing operations in this historic site, have provided a good chance for opportunities to plunder the area. Anyway, archeologists believe that if this condition continues and they do not start excavations activities in the area, nothing will remain from this historic site.

 

Regarding the importance of this historic site, Mehrdad Malekzadeh, head of excavation team in Milajard told CHN: “Evidence in Milajard historic site, show the cultural extent of gray clay in Iran’s southern areas. That is why Milajard which has been severely plundered by smugglers during past years is considered so important in archeological aspect, because evidence of clay relics in the area is very similar to those of 6^th cultural period of Sialk historic site.”

 

Historical site of Sialk situated southwest of Kashan, Isfahan province, is one of the most important historical sites belonging to the Iron Age. Based on archeological investigations carried out by both the French and Iranian teams, 6 cultural periods were differentiated in ancient hills of Sialk. For the first time it was excavated by Roman Grishman some 70 years ago.

 

According to Malekzadeh, after Grishman excavations, evidence of gray clay culture was identified in other historical sites of Iran’s central plateau as well.  

 

Milajard is the most southern Iron Age site in Iran’s central plateau which dates back to 1250 to 880 BCE and is called as a piece of cultural puzzle of this epoch by archeologists.      

 

Milajard is an ancient cemetery, which was accidentally discovered some 5 years ago during laying gas pipes in the area, ever since this historic area has been plundered several times by a number of opportunists due to lack of protection. Currently an area about 100 in 100 square meters have been identified, however, archeologists believe that the area must have been much bigger than this and one of their main aims is to clarify the limitation of this historic site. 

 

The burial gifts unearthed from the graves denote to the Second Iron Age period in Iran and resembles to those previously discovered in cemetery A of Sialk historical site.

 

However, despite all its invaluable archeological importance, Milajard historic site is still waiting to receive financial support for rescuing operations.

 

Mohsen Javeri, director of Archeology Department of Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts, and Tourism Department in Isfahan province told CHN that they are trying to convince Iran’s Plan and Budget Organization to solve the budget problem existing in this regard.

 

“Conducting archeological excavations in Milajard historical site is one of the priorities of ICHHTO’s Isfahan Base. Therefore, we have asked Mehrdad Malekzadeh who is a specialist in Iron Age studies, to come to Isfahan to cooperate in this project. However, unfortunately due to financial problems the project has been postponed,” added Javeri. 

 

Although according to Saeed Baktash, director of ICHHTO’s Isfahan Base, the Organization is trying to protect the area against being looted though increasing the number of guards in the region, archeologists still believe that the area is not well protected and is still at risk of being plundered.  

 

Since the area has been greatly plundered during the recent years, the graves have been disturbed and a large number of historical relics have been looted. Archeologists strongly believe that rescuing of Milajard is in a state of emergency and if this trend of plundering continues, in a very near future we will witness the lost of invaluable cultural heritage evidence. 

 

Soudabeh Sadigh

foreigndesk@chn.ir