Iran, Italy to mark 60 years of collaboration in cultural heritage

TEHRAN – Iran and Italy will mark 60 years of collaboration in the fields of cultural heritage and archaeology in a conference, which will be held on Sunday at the National Museum of Iran in downtown Tehran.

Newly-found petroglyph in western Iran may have link to Mithraism

TEHRAN – A newly-discovered rock-carving in western Iran could have a link to Mithraism, a prehistorical religion inspired by Iranian worship of the Zoroastrian god Mithra.

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.

Returned Achaemenid tablets to go on show in Qazvin

TEHRAN – A select of 1,783 Achaemenid-era clay tablets and fragments, which were on loan from Iran to the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago since 1935, will be put on show in the city of Qazvin.

Cave bearing ancient human skeletons discovered near Tehran

TEHRAN – Iranian archaeologists have recently discovered remains of human skeletons reportedly dating back to ancient era in a cave in Lavasan region near Tehran.

Iran submits dossier to UNESCO for listing Uraman landscape

TEHRAN – Iran has recently submitted a dossier to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization for possible inscription of the Uraman cultural landscape which is situated west of the country.

National museum has new look at history of Tehran

TEHRAN – An exhibit at the National Museum of Iran offers its visitors Tehran’s thousands of years of history by showcasing relics excavated from southern and northern neighborhoods of the city.

By Marjohn Sheikhi

‘Passion, penchant for uncertainty’ are what you need for archaeology, says Prof. Barbara Kaim

TEHRAN - Renowned Polish Professor Barbara Kaim, an archaeologist with a focus on Iran and Central Asia, says you need passion and a penchant for uncertainty to venture into the realm of archaeology.

Traces of early humans found in southern Iran 

TEHRAN – A team of archaeologists has found traces of early humans and their basic handmade tools near the village of Bangelayan, southern Hormozgan province. 

Ancient Iran: a glimpse of Persian art and architecture under Sassanids

TEHRAN – The Sassanid era (224 CE–651) is of very high importance in the history of Iran. Under Sassanids, Persian art and architecture experienced a general renaissance.

Relics relating to Kingdom of Urartu found in northwest Iran

TEHRAN – Archaeological relics relating to Kingdom of Urartu (860 BC – 590 BC) has recently been found in Anaqizli mount, Chaypareh county, northwest Iran.

Dutch archaeology show in Tehran wraps up

TEHRAN – A significant exhibition of arts and archaeological objects, which was on loan from the Drents Museum, has come to an end at the National Museum of Iran, CHTN reported on Sunday.

Iran among countries with Neanderthal discoveries

TEHRAN - A new find, recently published in the Journal of Human Evolution, suggests that Neanderthals were roaming at the Iranian Zagros Mountain sometimes between 40 to 70 thousand years ago.

Preliminary studies start on fossilized skull found in western Iran

TEHRAN – Preliminary studies have been started on pieces of a fossilized skull, which was untethered earlier in western Iran. The skull is attributed to Homo sapiens.

Rare dovetail-joints found in UNESCO-tagged Pasargadae

TEHRAN – Personnel of Pasargadae have recently found two rare dovetail-joints, which used to attach massive stone slabs, pillars and columns in the UNESCO World Heritage site that was once the capital of the Achaemenid Empire under Cyrus the Great (559–530 BC), who ordered its construction.

Remains of a Neanderthal-era horse found in Iran

TEHRAN – Archaeologists have discovered remains of a horse, which they believe to be hunted by Neanderthals in a cave that is now situated in Qazvin province.

Ancient fort in southern Tehran to turn into outdoor museum

TEHRAN – The ruined Gabri fort, which is said to date from Sassanid era, will be turned into an outdoor museum, an official with the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization said on Tuesday, IRNA reported.

Refuge with troglodytic architecture found in northern Iran

TEHRAN – Locals of a northern Iranian village have discovered a cave-like entrance to a larger area, which recent investigation by cultural heritage experts proved it was probably used as a refuge in the far past.

Parthian-era jars unexpectedly found in western Iran

TEHRAN – Workers have accidentally discovered two Parthian-era jars in a western Iranian village while digging to lay natural gas pipes. 

Underground cave found in central Iran

TEHRAN – Iranian researchers have so far explored some 500 meters of an underground cave, found in Barzok region of Kashan county, Isfahan province.

Tchogha Zanbil: World’s best surviving example of Elamite architecture

TEHRAN – UNESCO-listed Tchogha Zanbil is widely known as the world’s best surviving example of Elamite architecture. The ruined ziggurat stands in Khuzestan province, southwest Iran. It was made a UNESCO site in 1979.

Millennia-old plant fossils discovered in northwest Iran

TEHRAN – Millennia-old fossil remains of various plants have recently been discovered in Meshkin Shahr county, northwest Iran, CHTN reported on Wednesday.

Construction workers come across prehistorical cultural evidence in western Iran

TEHRAN – Scraps of cultural evidence dating from 5th and 4th millennium BC have accidentally been discovered during a construction project in the western city of Azna, Lorestan province.

Excavation goes on at Kaldar Cave where remains of Homo sapiens found

TEHRAN – Iran’s Research Institute of Cultural Heritage and Tourism has extended permit for exploration at the Kaldar Cave, which has previously yielded a fragment of a fossilized skull along with some stone tools attributed to Homo sapiens.

Doors of ancient underground “city” opened to archaeologists 

TEHRAN – A team of archaeologists has commenced an extensive research on a centuries-old underground “city”, which is located in Salehabad district of Hamedan province, west-central Iran, ISNA reported on Friday.

Iran-Germany archaeological survey ends in Jiroft

TEHRAN – A team of Iranian and German experts has finished their fifth season of archaeological survey in Jiroft, an ancient city in Kerman, southeastern Iran.

Remnants of Egyptian fortress once conquered by Achaemenid Persians discovered

TEHRAN – Archaeologists in Egypt have found vestiges of a prehistorical fortress, which was once conquered by Achaemenid Persians during their expedition to the country, IRNA reported on Tuesday.

Rare discovery in Iran’s Burnt City: Caged monkey dead in captivity

TEHRAN – A team of archaeologists has discovered the remains of a prehistoric monkey in Burnt City, southeast Iran, saying the animal was held in captivity in a cage when it died.

Fossils, stone tools of enigmatic human species found in Iran

TEHRAN – A team of Archaeologists has recently excavated stone tools and a fragment of a fossilized skull, which are attributed to Homo sapiens, from a cave in western Iran. The cave has also yielded weapon fragments crafted by Neanderthals.