TEHRAN – Separate teams of Italian and Spanish experts will join hands with Iranian counterparts to cope with spreading lichens in Persepolis, a World Heritage site in southern Iran.

To fulfill separate memoranda of understanding, Italian and Spanish researchers will soon start their studies on various types of lichen in Persepolis, ILNA quoted Masoud Rezai-Monfared, director of the world heritage site, as saying on Monday. 

“To date, no comprehensive investigation has been carried out on lichens in Persepolis, so that there is no accurate estimate for damage to the structure.”

“All over the world, open-air stone works are facing such a problem which is impossible to eradicate … this is a problem that must be treated with ease …,” he added.

Researchers intend to devise a risk-free method to cope with lichens without damaging the integrity of the glorious structure, the report says.

Persepolis which was once a ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire (550–330 BC), lies just only an hour’s drive from north-east of Shiraz.

PHOTO: Prehistoric Bas-relief carvings are surrounded with spreading lichens in Persepolis, a World Heritage in southern Iran.

AFM/MQ/MG