Human civilization might have started in Iran

For many decades, students across the world have been told that human civilization started some 5,000 years ago on the banks of Euphrates and Tigris rivers in Mesopotamia, Nile River in Egypt, and Indus River in the Indian Subcontinent. However, some researchers currently believe that human civilization might have started in Iran.

 

Archeologists who have been working on the crescent-shaped area comprising Russia, Iran and the Arabian Peninsula, have found new evidence of the existence of a complex urban network in Iran which show that this area might have been very prosperous some 5,000 years ago.

 

Andrew Lawler wrote in the creditable Science magazine that the discovery has been made by an archeological team which included the Iranian researcher, Yousef Majidzadeh, and aimed to demystify the origins of human civilization.

 

The article has noted that although international efforts aimed at the above goal are still incipient, but many archeologists maintain that new findings will change historical understanding of human civilization by presenting a complex picture of urban civilization in the region between Mesopotamia and Indus River, trade, technologies used in every area and other issues. 

 

The Science columnist has also noted that although Mesopotamia is still considered as cradle of human civilization, scientists know that the region between Mesopotamia and India has seen many cities and cultures some 2000-3000 years before the birth of Christ.

 

The article stated that evidence to support this theory was provided by scientists from various countries including Iran, Russia, Italy, France, and the United States at a meeting of the international association which conducts studies on early civilizations in Italy.

 

The archeologists compared their findings from several ancient urban centers with those already found in Mesopotamia and around Indus River now in modern Pakistan and India. The most surprising evidence belonged to a region in south Iran around Halilroud River and the south of the modern city of Jiroft. The findings were retrieved by a team headed by Yousef Majidzadeh which found the remnants of a big and prosperous ancient city.

 

The article has noted that the city has had an area of 2 square kilometers and dates back to the third millennium BC which has been protected by a strong fortress. Majidzadeh has been quoted as saying that explorations at a chamber of the fortress have revealed brick statue of a man as well as clay paintings hanged to the wall, which he believes to be a remarkable find pertaining to that era of time.

 

Some graves in that region have been plundered, which shows that its people have been wealthy. Majidzadeh has discovered a big tomb in a limestone area which seems to have remained intact since that time. The discovery also includes a staircase which leads to a chamber with 8 burial places, some beds as well as other valuable artifacts. The discovery is sure to lead to a revolution in theories related to emergence of human civilization.

 

Jiroft, the missing link of the chain of civilization

 

Born 1936 in Tabriz, Dr. Yousef Majidzadeh, the veteran Iranian archaeologist, believes that Jiroft is the missing link of the chain of civilization and says it has such a significant civilization that he would be proud to be named an honorary citizen of the ancient site.

 

In a seminar entitled “Jiroft, the Cradle of Oriental Civilization” held in Kerman, he said “The history of civilization in Jiroft dates back to 2700 BC and the third millennium civilization is the missing link of the chain of civilization which archaeologists have long sought.”

 

“We do not deny the Mesopotamian civilization, but we believe that the Jiroft culture is of equal importance to the Mesopotamian. The only difference is that the Mesopotamian civilization had cultural continuity while the Jiroft civilization suffered from ups and downs for natural reasons. Thus it emerged in a certain period and was buried at a later time.”

 

Madjidzadeh, however, maintains that pottery found at Jiroft compares to shards from Tepe Yahya dated to 2800 BC. In addition, he reasons, it would have taken nearly half a millennium for Jiroft’s artisans to develop the degree of skill that attracted King Enmerkar’s envy in 2500 BC, an inference that pushes back the establishment of Jiroft to about 3000 BC.