TEHRAN -- The sudden drought of wellsprings, which feed the pool nearby historical site of Taq Bostan in Kermanshah on July 9, caused worry for environmentalists and citizens. However, after about 20 days, the water flew back to the springs early this week.

Located near Kermanshah, Taq Bostan contains a beautiful bas-relief of the Investiture of Ardeshir II and the crowning of his son Shapur III and Khosrow Parviz as well as deer and boar hunting scenes.

Weather warming and drought were estimated to be the main causes for the 20-day drying up of the springs.

Thus, a team of experts are carrying a research to find the reasons of drying up of springs, the head of Iran's Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicraft Organization (CHTHO) office in Kermanshah Ali Fa’alehgari told the Persian service of Khabaronline website on Monday.

""We will announce the results after we obtain confirmation from Kermanshah governor,"" he said.

The study includes geophysical survey, water sampling from springs, rain and near wells, he said.

""Through these studies, we plan to achieve a framework to face any probable natural crisis in Taq Bostan,"" he said.

Kermanshah's CHTHO Office hasn’t announced any reason for the drying up of Taq Bostan springwells yet, he added.

“Of course, there are several reasons for drying up of wells like the excessive well digging around the historical complex that could be one of the main causes,” he added.

Fourteen wells and 20 carwashes are located near Taq Bostan, which draw water from Taq Bostan Pool illegally; head of Ministry of Jihad Agriculture department in Kermanshah Ali Ashraf Mansuri told the Persian service of ILNA.

The main reason for the problem is the drought over the past years and overdraft of groundwater exacerbates the issue, he added.

Taq Bostan is on UNESCO’s Tentative List since 2007 and drying up of the complex’s springs could reduce the chances of receiving world heritage status.


------------ Taq Bostan or Taq wa San

For ancient Iranians water has always been sacred as in Zoroastrian teachings it has been mentioned that “Oh God, keep away this land from war, drought and lie.”

In the course of history, Kermanshah Province - better known as Kermanshahan in ancient Persian manuscripts - because of abundance of water resources is considered one of the oldest settlements of man.

The best reason to back up the idea is the ancient historical monuments scattered throughout the province like Taq Bostan or Bistun.

The Kurdish people of Kermanshah call it Taq wa San which means an arch made of stone. The province was known from 1969 to 1979 as Kermanshahan with the provincial city of Kermanshah as its capital city and from 1986 to 1995 as Bakhtaran.

Taq wa San or Taq-e Bostan is a site With a series of large rock reliefs from the era of Sassanid Empire of Persia, the Iranian dynasty which ruled western Asia from 226 to 650 AD. This example of Sassanid art is located 5 km from the city center of Kermanshah in western Iran. It is located in the heart of the Zagros Mountains.

The carvings, some of the finest and best-preserved examples of Persian sculpture under the Sassanids, include representations of the investitures of Ardashir II (379–383) and Shapur III (383–388). Like other Sassanid symbols, Taq-e Bostan and its relief patterns accentuate power, religious tendencies, glory, honor, the vastness of the court, game and fighting spirit, festivity, joy, and rejoicing.

(Mr. Ali Asghar Pahlvan also contributed to this article)

PHOTO: Taq wa San or Taq-e Bostan is a site with a series of large rock reliefs from the era of Sassanid Empire of Persia, the Iranian dynasty which ruled western Asia from 226 to 650 AD (Maysam Mani'ee/Mehr)


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