TEHRAN – Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Ministry plans to launch the first archaeological excavation in the historic urban fabric of Birjand, the capital of South Khorasan province, to study underground layers and prepare the ground for an open-air museum, a provincial official said on Sunday.

Seyyed Ahmad Barabadi, director general of cultural heritage, tourism and handicrafts in South Khorasan, said the excavation aims to document urban stratigraphy and obtain subsurface archaeological data that have not previously been studied in Birjand.

Barabadi made the remarks at the first coordination meeting on the excavation project, attended by the head of the Faculty of Art at Birjand University and archaeology professors and experts, Miras Aria reported.

He said no prior field research had been carried out to access underground archaeological evidence or conduct urban stratigraphic studies in Birjand, and that existing historical data were limited to written sources and visible surface monuments.

Barabadi added that archaeological excavation is sometimes necessary to verify historical documents when surface remains have been lost, and said the planned research could provide scientific data on Birjand’s urban archaeology and history.

He said most surviving buildings in Birjand’s historic core date back to the Qajar period, with only limited remains from the medieval Islamic era, despite historical evidence that the city’s origins predate Islamic era.

According to Barabadi, the first season of excavation is scheduled for early 1405 in the Iranian calendar, beginning in March 2026, in cooperation with the archaeology group of Birjand University’s Faculty of Art and with the participation of students.

He said the project is intended to support historical stratification studies and help establish an open-air museum within the historic fabric of the city.

Birjand is located in eastern Iran and serves as the administrative center of South Khorasan province. The city is known for agricultural products such as saffron, barberry and jujube, as well as handmade carpets.

South Khorasan province is home to several ethnic groups and includes historical and natural sites such as Birjand Castle, Furg Citadel, Dragon Cave and the Polond Desert, along with widespread rug production across the region.

AM