Discovery of clay works in N.Western Iran dates back to Iron Age

EghtesadOnline: Continuation of emergency theological explorations in Arg-e Alishah (Alishah Citadel) in North West of Iran resulted in the discovery of some works, including broken potteries dating back to the Iron Age, the Research Institute of Cultural Heritage and Tourism (RICHT) reported.

News ID: ۷۷۴۶۸۰

18 March 2017

RICHT Public Relations Office quoted head of the emergency archeological explorations team in Arg-e Alishah “Alishah Mosque”, as saying that continuation of explorations in the current month also resulted in the discovery of the watering system from two canals, a pressure-breaker pool and several clay water pipes, IRNA reported.

The archaeologist also referred to the discovery of a grave with double burial and stratigraphic wall more than 200 years old which, under the present conditions and until the achievement of the results of archeometric studies, can be attributed to Tabriz earthquake 236 years ago.

“The broken clay pieces dating back to the Islamic civilization (Ilkhan up to Qajar) and two broken clay works of the Iron Age and two historical coins which are in need of cleaning are among other objects obtained in Arg-e Alishah in the past month,” he said.

“In addition to the temporary registration of the burial and clay water pipes, adobe architectural structures and the watering system have been protected by the installation of metal scaffolding. However, it is evident that the works are in need of sustainable and long-term protection,” he added.

It is worth mentioning that after the unauthorized excavations between the northwest corner of the national heritage Arg-e Tabriz and the southern area of the national heritage Fathollahov mansion this year, the archeogeophysics mapping group conducted studies on the excavated area in which existence of historical objects in the lower layers and peripheral location of the excavated area was proven.