TEHRAN -- Iron covers installed to safeguard the Elamite bas-reliefs of Kul-Farah against rain have turned out to be destructive factors at the sites.

The shields have decayed and rusted as a result of rain and humidity and the surfaces of the bas-reliefs have consequently become stained by rainwater containing ferric oxide, Izeh Cultural Heritage Lovers Society director Faramarz Khoshab told the Persian service of CHN on Tuesday.
All the protective covers have now been removed except the one on the sixth bas-relief. However, the rust stains still remain and are spoiling the relics, he explained.
The iron covers were to be replaced with vacuum glass display units, but studies proved that the devices would also cause damage to the bas-reliefs.
Consequently, a team of experts was tasked to invent suitable methods for the protection of the ancient works of art, but they have so far been unable to come up with a solution to the problem.
Located near Izeh city in southern Iran’s Khuzestan Province, Kul-Farah is home to large bas-reliefs depicting ensembles of vertical and horizontal harps which are the same size as Mesopotamian harps.
Vandals have sprayed graffiti on some of the bas-reliefs on several occasions over the past few years.