By Afshin Majlesi

The absolutely magnificent ‘Gold Bowl of Hasanlu’: Sixty-three years later

TEHRAN – Sixty-three years ago, an Iranian man, named Emamqoli Mohammadi Hasanluei, unearthed a millennia-old gold bowl in the debris of a burned building, part of the major architectural complex at Teppe Hasanlu near the city of Naghadeh in the northwestern province of West Azarbaijan, a short distance south of Lake Urmia.

Jameh Mosque of Urmia undergoes new round of excavation

TEHRAN – An archaeological project has been commenced on the eastern side of the centuries-old Jameh Mosque of Urmia, which stands tall in the city of Urmia, the capital of northwestern East Azarbaijan province.

Skeleton of another ‘Parthian lady’ discovered in Isfahan

TEHRAN – A team of Iranian archaeologists has found what they say is the skeleton of the second Parthian-era (247 BC – 224 CE) lady at the ancient Tepe Ashraf in Isfahan, hoping new range of discoveries offer novel clues about the history of the central Iranian city.

Four archaeological hills being demarcated in Miandoab

TEHRAN – Teams of Iranian archaeologists have commenced separate surveys to demarcate four archaeological hills situated in Miandoab county, northwestern West Azarbaijan province.

Iranian archaeologists find new clues on enigmatic Laodicea Temple

TEHRAN – A team of Iranian archaeologists has found further evidence to unearth the enigmatic Laodicea Temple in the city of Nahavand, west-central Hamedan province.

Stratigraphy study reveals vestiges of Iron, Bronze, Copper, and Neolithic ages in northern Iran

TEHRAN – A recent stratigraphy study has revealed historical vestiges dating back to various eras of history including Iron Age, Bronze Age, Copper Age, and Neolithic era at Touq Tepe, a historic region in northern Mazandaran province, bordering the Caspian Sea.

In-depth study starts on Iran’s UNESCO-tagged ‘village of troglodytes’

TEHRAN – A comprehensive study has been commenced on the UNESCO-registered Maymand in a bid to expand protective measures on this ancient manmade-cave dwelling where the then residents made a living about five or six millennia ago in what is now a village in the southeastern Kerman province.

Ancient aqueduct identified in western Iran

TEHRAN – An ancient hand-dug qanat, an old type of underground water-supply system developed and still used in arid regions, has recently been identified adjacent to an archeological hill in Lorestan province, western Iran.

Over 30 Paleolithic sites discovered in eastern Iran

TEHRAN – More than 30 Paleolithic-era sites have been discovered during a recent archaeological survey in Ferdows county, eastern South Khorasan province.

Ancient human skeleton unearthed in Isfahan

TEHRAN – The remains of an ancient person, believed to date back to the Parthian era (247 BC – 224 CE), has been discovered during an archaeological season which is underway at Tepe Ashraf, the sole archaeological hill in Isfahan, central Iran.

Another mapping survey starts in archaeologically-rich Marvdasht plain

TEHRAN – The third archaeological season for demarcation, mapping, and documentation of Marvdasht plain has commenced in the archaeologically-rich area, which once the seat of power for the Achaemenid Persian Empire (c. 550 – 330 BC) in southern Iran.

Archaeologist says newest Ecbatana excavations yielded ‘satisfying’ results

TEHRAN – Senior Iranian archaeologist Mehrdad Malekzadeh has said results of the 22nd archaeological season recently conducted on the ancient city of Ecbatana in west-central Iran were “satisfying”.

The word ‘Iran’ deciphered from Islamic-era petroglyph

TEHRAN -  The word “Iran” has recently been deciphered from an early Islamic-era petroglyph, which was found last year at an ancient fortress in Semirom county, Isfahan province, central Iran.

Newly unearthed workshops may push back history of Isfahan by millennia

TEHRAN – Archaeologists have unearthed the ruins of two workshops, estimated to date from the Parthian era (247 BC – 224 CE), in Isfahan in a significant discovery that may push back the history of the central Iranian city in time by millennia.

“Siraf: History, Topography and Environment” appears in Iranian bookstores

TEHRAN – TEHRAN - British archaeologist’s book “Siraf: History, Topography and Environment”, which turns the spotlight on seasons of archaeological surveys in the ancient Iranian port, has been published in Persian recently.

Thorough research sheds new light on 21 ancient sites across central Iranian plateau

An aerial photo shows the ruins of a millennia-old human settlement, which along with 20 others, has recently been identified during what is called the ‘most extensive’ systematic field research so far conducted in the central Iranian plateau, July 6, 2020. 

A peek into Bronze-Age Tepe Gariran, a gateway to the “Old Routes of Western Iran”

TEHRAN – In 1931, the renowned British archaeologist Sir Marc Aurel Stein (1862 – 1943) surveyed Tepe Gariran in western Iran along with several others across the ancient land. His views were published in November 1969 in a book titled “Old Routes of Western Iran: Narratives of an Archaeological Journey”.

Archaeological survey identifies 205 relics, ancient sites in Kerman

TEHRAN – A total of 205 relics and ancient sites have been identified during an archaeological survey in Kuhbanan, the southeastern Kerman province, suggesting that the region has long been a hub for Tutia (vitriol) production and the main corridor for human migration into the eastern parts of the Asian continent.

By Afshin Majlesi

Excavation sheds new light on mysterious capital of Medes in Ecbatana

TEHRAN – Archaeologists have unearthed new cultural relics and architectural vestiges that sheds a new light on the mysterious capital of Medes, which is widely believed to be in Ecbatana, an ancient city on the site of which stands the modern city of Hamadan in west-central Iran.

Scottish archaeologist David Stronach, famed for intensive Iranian studies, dies at 89

TEHRAN – Scottish archaeologist David Stronach, who was director of the British Institute of Persian Studies in Iran in the 1960s and 1970s, has died aged 89.

Tens of historical areas, relics identified in western Iran

TEHRAN – A total number of 65 centuries-old areas and relics have been found during an archeological season, which recently came to end in Sirvan plain, western province of Ilam.

Prehistorical petroglyph bearing Pahlavi script discovered in central Iran

TEHRAN – A prehistorical petroglyph, which bears Pahlavi script written by ordinary people of the time, has recently been found during an archaeological survey in Teymareh region of Khomein county, central Iran.

Archaeological survey yields 145 relics in southeastern Iran

TEHRAN – A total of 145 ancient and prehistorical relics have so far been identified during an archaeological survey being conducted in the central core of the Qalehganj county, southeastern Kerman province.

Iranian cave estimated to date over 63,000 years

TEHRAN – Nearly one decade of archaeological surveys at Kaldar cave has concluded that parts of this western Iranian shelter date more than 63,000 years.

Ancient customs house being restored in southern Iran

TEHRAN – The ruins of an ancient customs house, which was once one the busiest and most prosperous in its heyday, is being restored during an urgent rehabilitation project on the northern coasts of the Persian Gulf, southern Iran.

Centuries-old subterranean shelter found during well drilling

TEHRAN – A relatively-vast underground shelter which is estimated to date back to 250 years ago was accidentally found during a well drilling process at the premises of a private house in a village in Gonabad county, northeast Iran.

Excavations at Iranian mosque unearth new evidence on life in early Islamic era

TEHRAN – Some historical objects have been unearthed during a round of archaeological excavation, which is currently underway in a centuries-old congregational mosque in Rasht, the capital of Gilan province, northern Iran.

Discovery of bizarre tomb offers clues to ancient life in Isfahan

TEHRAN – The discovery of the second giant jar-tomb in the sole historical hill of Isfahan has shed new light on ancient human life in the central Iranian city.

Excavations reveal rare find of Bronze Age culture in Iran

TEHRAN – Iran has recently unearthed a rare Bronze Age culture, related settlements and relics following to rounds of excavation in a plain near the north-central city of Qom.

Aerial survey sheds new light on vast ancient city in southern Iran

TEHRAN – An in-depth aerial survey combined by series of field research has shed new light on remnants of a vast ancient city in southern Iran, which was once in the heart of the mighty Sassanid Empire in its heyday. The discovery has opened up a new window towards the urban engineering and Persian garden arrangements of the time.