Tehran, 15 September 2007 (CHN Foreign Desk) – By wrapping up archeological excavations on Gorgan’s Great Wall, Iranian-British joint team has succeeded in identifying 30 historical sites dating back to Parthian (248 BC-224 AD) and Sassanian (224-651 AD) dynastic eras.

 

The joint Iranian-British archeology team consisted of experts of Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts, and Tourism Organization (ICHHTO) and University of Edinburgh and Durham University, started the second season of excavations on Gorgan’s defensive wall in Kolaleh, Gonbad Kavus, and Turkmen port, all located northern Iran. 

 

According to Hamid Omrani, Iranian head of the Iranian-British team, the majority of the Parthian and Sassanian historical sites have been discovered in northern side of Gorgan’s wall. Prior to this, during the archeological excavations in the vicinity of Gorgan’s wall, the team also succeeded in discovering the biggest fortress, 64 hectares in area, in one kilometer distance outside of Gorgan’s wall. 

 

Gorgan’s great wall extended for 200 kilometers in the southern coast of the Caspian Sea, is the most ancient and the longest wall in Iran. It was constructed to prevent invasions by the Heptai tribes from north side of the country. Comparable to the Great Wall of China, Gorgan’s Defensive Wall has a cultural-historic importance and brings into light the rich civilization of northern regions of present-day Iran.     

 

 

Soudabeh Sadigh

foreigndesk@chn.ir