TEHRAN—Archaeologists have identified 100 historical coins during their second season of excavations in Kamar-Zarrin site in the ancient city of Isfahan, said Director General of Isfahan Cultural Heritage Department Amir Karamzadeh on Monday.

He told IRNA that they found relics that strengthen the possibility of an important trading house in this area. 

“Yesterday alone, 35 coins were recovered, which is a very significant number,” he said.

He clarified that these coins mostly belong to the Islamic era, but to accurately determine their age, they must be cleaned and examined in a laboratory environment.

Pointing to the importance of the findings, he said, “Given the available evidence, we believe that this area was an important trading center in the past and that there are more valuable artifacts in the lower layers of the soil.”

He also gave news of extension of the excavation permit by the Archaeological Research Institute, adding that the excavation permit for the second season was 40 days, and with its end, a new permit has been issued to continue excavations in the area in front of the Kamar-Zarrin Mosque.

“This opportunity allows us to conduct more extensive research and obtain more details about the economic and cultural history of this region.”

Karamzadeh emphasized that these excavations can help better understand the historical and civilizational identity of Isfahan and provide valuable findings to the researchers.

The excavation site lies near the buffer zone of the UNESCO-listed Jameh Mosque of Isfahan, one of the city’s most prominent monuments. Karamzadeh noted that this proximity gives the discoveries “added importance,” as they may provide new insights into the mosque’s surrounding historical layers.

The launch of the second phase followed what officials described as multiple challenges. Karamzadeh credited the support of provincial authorities, including the governor of Isfahan, the mayor, and the local prosecutor, for enabling the resumption of excavations.

The first excavation at Kamar-Zarrin, conducted last year by a team from the University of Art Isfahan, revealed traces of human activity spanning several historical eras. Ali Shojaei-Esfahani, an archaeologist and faculty member at the university, said findings included Sassanian-period (224–651 CE) remains, confirming the passage’s long-standing role in the city’s development.

Isfahan was once a crossroads of international trade and diplomacy in Iran and now it is one of Iran’s top tourist destinations for good reasons. It is filled with many architectural wonders, such as unmatched Islamic buildings, bazaars, museums, Persian gardens, and tree-lined boulevards. It’s a city for walking, getting lost in its mazing bazaars, dozing in beautiful gardens, and meeting people.

The Persian proverb “Isfahan, Nesf-e-Jahan” (Isfahan is half the world) reflects the city’s cultural and historical prominence.

KD