Tokyo exhibit features ancient Iran-Japan cultural ties

TEHRAN – Sets of valuable historical relics from ancient Iran have been recently put on show by International Network for Japanese Art at Tokyo National Museum along with exquisite objects from the formative Asuka and Nara periods (593–794), showcasing the deep cultural ties of the two countries rooted in the historical past.

Tens of illegally-kept historical objects seized in Tehran

TEHRAN - Iranian authorities have recently confiscated 448 historical objects which were illegally kept in a place in the city of Tehran, IRNA reported on Wednesday.

Archeological find corroborates Japan-Persia ancient ties

TEHRAN – Japan has unveiled a rare discovery of ties between the then mighty empire of the East and people from the then Persia (now called Iran).

Iran tourism will rebound despite suffering a severe blow: minister

TEHRAN – Iran’s tourism minister on Sunday said that the country’s tourism industry has suffered a major setback but it will certainly return to “normal”.

Kermanshah exports of handicrafts surge 40 percent, hit $15 million

TEHRAN – Handicrafts exports from western Kermanshah province reached some $15 million in the first nine months of the current Iranian calendar year (started March 21, 2019), showing 40 percent growth year on year.

Iran’s first ‘modern university’ reopens to visitors

TEHRAN – The 19th-century madrasa of Dar ul-Funun in Tehran, known as Iran’s first modern university, has reopened doors to visitors while undergoing restoration work.

Over $950,000 allocated for Portuguese Castle restoration in Persian Gulf

TEHRAN – On Friday, Iranian tourism minister Ali-Asghar Mounesan visited the Portuguese Castle in the Persian Gulf island of Hormuz, allocating 40 billion rials (some $952,000) for restoration of the 16th-century monument.

Newly-excavated site yields pre-historic to Islamic-era relics in Iran

TEHRAN – A team of Iranian archaeologists and researchers has recently unearthed pre-historic to Islamic-era relics and fragments of objects from a piece of land, which is speculated to be once a historical cemetery, in Asiabsar village, northern Mazandaran province.

By Afshin Majlesi

Put your skates on; Yalda is to knock the door!

A new Yalda Night is approaching the hearts of Iranians no matter which part of the globe they live. On that graceful night the winter chill is vanquished and the warmth of love embraces the entire family.

Tehran exhibit to highlight maritime history in Iran

TEHRAN – Thousands of years of human interaction with the sea is to be showcased at an exhibition titled “Human and Sea” which opened today at the National Museum of Iran in downtown Tehran. 

Recovered Achaemenid ‘guard’ to go on show at Milad Tower

TEHRAN – A limestone relief of an Achaemenid Persian guard, which was brought back home from the U.S. last year, will go show in a month-long exhibit at Tehran’s Milad Tower.

Some 2,500 historical monuments in need of restoration in Iran

TEHRAN – Of the numerous historical buildings and structures that are scattered across Iran, some 2,500 ones are in need of restoration, an official with the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts has said. 

Atlas of food being developed in Ardebil province

TEHRAN – A comprehensive atlas of traditional foods, which are prepared across Iran’s Ardebil province, is being developed, CHTN reported.

President Rouhani invited to Hyrcanian Forest World Heritage celebration

TEHRAN – President Hassan Rouhani has been invited to attend a ceremony to celebrate registration of Hyrcanian Forest as a UNESCO World Heritage.

Iran enjoys all attractions for Spanish travelers: diplomat

TEHRAN – Iran is a country that is highly important in terms of culture and it embraces all the necessary attractions for Spanish tourists who like to travel to the country, Spanish Charge d’Affaires to Tehran, Jose Luis Solano, has said.

Vandalized prehistorical bas-relief restored in western Iran

TEHRAN – A 3rd-millennium-BC bas-relief, vandalized on a rock surface in western Iran earlier in September, has been restored without damaging its other undestroyed sections.

Iranian police seize ancient relics from smuggler

TEHRAN – A number of ancient relics, estimated to date from prehistoric times to the [early] Islamic era, have recently been confiscated from a smuggler in Nahavand, Hamedan province, west-central Iran. 

Iranian, Danish archaeologists find new Iron Age traces in western Iran

TEHRAN – A team of Iranian and Danish archaeologists and cultural heritage experts has recently discovered new traces of Iron Age occupation in a prehistorical cave, which is situated in Ilam province, western Iran.

Italian, Japanese expertise to help reinforce Tehran museum

TEHRAN – Italian, Japanese and Iranian engineering firms are set to join hands in a project for reinforcing and strengthening the “Ancient Iran” section of the National Museum of Iran, director of the museum said on Sunday, Fars reported.

Iranian experts build replica of two-million-year-old elephant skull

TEHRAN – A life-size replica of the skull of an elephant, which is estimated to have lived some two million years ago, was unveiled at Zanjan University on Sunday.

Over 2,000 ancient coins recovered by Iranian police

TEHRAN – Iranian authorities have recently seized over 2,000 ancient coins from five smugglers and antique dealers, who were illegally keeping the relics in a hideout in Mashhad, northeast Iran.

Festival showing nomadic rituals, crafts and arts

Tribespeople from every corner of Iran are showing their nomadic rituals, lifestyle, cuisine, crafts and arts in a four-day festival, which opened to the public in Gonbad-e Kavus, northern Golestan province, on November 17, 2019.

New archaeological season begins in Burnt City

TEHRAN – A group of Iranian archaeologists and fellow international experts have recently commenced a fresh round of exploration in the Burnt City, a UNESCO-registered site in southeastern Iran.

Prehistoric site discovered in Iran dating to 3rd millennium BC

TEHRAN – A prehistoric site, estimated to date from the third millennium BC, has recently been discovered in Minab, southern Iran.

Fossilized tooth is first evidence Neanderthals once lived in Iran

TEHRAN – A fossilized tooth found decades ago in the Zagros Mountains, western Iran, proves that Neanderthals once lived in the country, ARCHAEOLOGY magazine, a publication of the Archaeological Institute of America, has said, citing it as one of the ten most important archaeological findings in 2019.

Foreign visits to millennia-old Hasanlu on the rise

TEHRAN – Foreign visits to Hasanlu, a millennia-old archaeological site in northwest Iran, has been on the rise over the past couple of months, director of the historical site has said.

By David Robie

10 reasons why tourists must visit Iran

I stumbled on the scene by chance. Our host family in Iran’s second city Mashhad, a modern and beautiful metropolis that would comfortably fit in New Zealand’s entire population, was taking us on a drive to the outskirts to visit the tomb of the famous poet and chronicler Abul-Qasem Ferdowsi.

Remnants of Safavid-era bathhouse discovered

TEHRAN – Archaeologists have discovered remnants of a Safavid-era (1501–1736) public bathhouse within a former royal ensemble in the Iranian city of Qazvin.

Millennia-old coins recovered in northern Iran

TEHRAN – Iranian police have recently confiscated some 1,000 coins, reportedly dating back to three thousand years ago, from two antique smugglers in Miandorud, northern Mazandaran province.

Swiss people know Iran for its ancient civilization: ambassador

TEHRAN - Swiss ambassador to Tehran has said people of his country know Iran for its ancient civilization and the significant role that the country plays in the Middle East.