Tehran, 16 December 2006 (CHN Foreign Desk) -- Authorities of the Iranian Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization (ICHTO) are now waiting for experts of Khuzestan’s Justice Department to conduct seismic studies and determine the scale of damage to Da va Dokhtar fortress, dated to the Sassanid dynastic period (224–651 AD), caused by blasting operations of a plaster company.

 

The Sassanid fort of Da va Dokhtar (literary meaning ‘mother and daughter’), located in the Iranian southwestern province of Khuzestan, had been rocked by a series of explosions set off in its vicinity by Khuzestan’s plaster company. The use of explosives to extract plaster from the gypsum mountain on which Da va Dokhtar fortress is built resulted in extensive damage to the Sassanid Fort. This prompted ICHTO’s provincial department in the city of Ramhormoz to file a lawsuit against the Company, demanding immediate halt to the blasting operations. Backed by Ramhormoz governor office and public prosecutor, cultural heritage officials could finally put an end to the activities of the Company. However, operations were recently resumed in the region, ignoring the objections posed by ICHTO experts.

 

“Following our legal complaint and the Justice Department’s verbal notice, the Company stopped its activities in the area for two months but recently started its blasting operations,” said Fereidoun Biglari, director of the Cultural Heritage and Tourism Department of Ramhormoz. This is while the company owners had previously agreed to seize their activities near this fortress until a safer way is found to extract plaster from the mountain.

 

Located 5 kilometers north of the city of Ramhormoz, Da va Dokhtar Fortress is built on the mountain-skirts of a gypsum mountain. During the reign of Sassanid kings, Da va Dokhtar Fortress was constructed on this mountain to watch over caravans carrying merchandize to Susa from Pasargadae. The architectural style applied for its construction followed that of the ancient Roman forts.

 

Explosive activities of the plaster company near this historic monument over the past 30 years are responsible for much of the damage caused to Da va Dokhtar Fort. The fortress was originally consisted of two parts, one of which has completely been ruined in the recent years. There also used to be a rampart connecting the two parts of this fortress which was 4 meters in height and had 30 defense stations, from which not much has remained.

 

ICHTO officials are now determined to pursue the case through legal means in order to prevent this fortified Sassanid monument from collapsing.

 

 

Maryam Tabeshian

foreigndesk@chn.ir