Beijing exhibit features 7,000 years of Iranian civilization in digital format

TEHRAN – Iran’s National Museum is showcasing 7,000 years of civilization in digital format at a new exhibition in Beijing that brings together cultural relics from member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

Echoes of the Past: Millennia-old painted pottery vessel

The pictured vessel is a masterful example of the celebrated Cheshmeh Ali ware tradition, dating to the Transitional Chalcolithic period, approximately 5200-4800 BC.

Iran to host debut tourism expo focused on children and teens

TEHRAN – Iran will host its first festival and exhibition on children and youth tourism in Tehran from Sept. 29 to Oct. 3, a senior official said on Wednesday.

Geophysical scans reveal widespread ancient metallurgy in Iran’s Masouleh

TEHRAN - New evidence points to a sophisticated history of iron production intertwined with pastoral life in the renowned cultural landscape.

18th-century Vakil Mosque undergoes restoration in Shiraz

TEHRAN – The historic Vakil Mosque, part of an 18th-century ensemble in downtown Shiraz, has undergone restoration, a provincial official said.

‘World’s smallest’ ancient inscription discovered in southern Iran

TEHRAN – An Iranian historian has announced the discovery of what he says is the “world’s smallest known ancient inscription”, a 1,600-year-old text carved on a rock wall in Marvdasht, Fars province, dating to the late Sassanid period.

‘Oldest handicrafts’ traced to Lorestan, local official says

TEHRAN – Iran’s oldest known handicrafts have been traced to its Lorestan province, according to a local official.

Gilan’s tourism potential could rival oil revenues, minister says

TEHRAN – Iran’s Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts said on Saturday that the northern province of Gilan has the capacity to generate revenues on par with oil if investment in tourism infrastructure is prioritized.

Archaeologists uncover lusterware fragments, Islamic-era ruins in Isfahan excavation

TEHRAN – Archaeologists in Iran have recently unearthed fragments of Persian lusterware ceramics, historical coins, and remnants of Islamic-era architecture during the second phase of excavations at Kamar-Zarrin passage in Isfahan, a local official said on Thursday.

6,000-year-old fishing village reveals ancient maritime diet and fishing technology in Iran’s Makran

TEHRAN - Archaeologists working at the Koupal site in Dashtyari county, southeast Iran, have uncovered remarkable evidence of a 6,000-year-old fishing settlement, providing detailed insights into ancient maritime subsistence strategies.

Archaeological survey launched to protect Surt in northern Iran

TEHRAN – A team of archaeologists has begun a survey to determine the boundaries and propose a protective buffer zone for the ancient site of Surt in Mazandaran province, northern Iran, officials said on Monday.

Iran police seize 11 ancient Parthian coins in Khorramabad

TEHRAN – Iranian police have seized 11 historical coins believed to date back to the Parthian era in Khorramabad, the capital of western Lorestan province.

Echoes of the Past: Stucco plaque of Sasanian lady

The pictured Sassanid-era stucco plaque set within a central square depicts the bust of a smiling woman—likely a Sasanian princess, suggested by her ornate adornments. Unearthed at Tepe Hessar in Damghan, modern-day Semnan province, it dates to the late 6th or early 7th century CE.

Fars province, cradle of the Achaemenid Empire, seeks tourism rise

TEHRAN – Iran’s Fars province, home to ancient Achaemenid sites including Persepolis and Pasargadae, recorded 7.4 million tourist visits last year, officials said, as the government steps up efforts to position the region as a leading cultural tourism hub.

Ancient carving shows Assyrian soldiers using goat skins to cross river 2,900 years ago

TEHRAN – A 2,900-year-old carved panel from the ancient Assyrian city of Nimrud shows soldiers swimming across a river using inflatable goat skins, according to the British Museum.

Iran’s culture minister calls for accelerated excavations at ancient city of Istakhr

TEHRAN – Iran’s minister of cultural heritage, tourism and handicrafts has urged faster archaeological excavations at the ancient city of Istakhr in southern Iran, citing the site’s historical importance and the need for stronger protection against illegal digging.

Iran monitors subsidence at UNESCO-listed Gonbad-e Qabus tower

TEHRAN – Iranian heritage authorities are carrying out subsidence monitoring and technology studies on the UNESCO-listed Gonbad-e Qabus tower in Golestan province, the provincial tourism chief said on Saturday.

6th excavation season launched at Qal-e Kord cave, one of oldest human settlements in Iran

TEHRAN - The sixth season of archaeological excavations at Qal-e Kord cave in the Avaj county of Iran’s Qazvin province has begun under permits from the Research Institute of Cultural Heritage and Tourism, the institute said on Saturday.

Ancient stone artifacts in Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari province date back to Paleolithic era

TEHRAN - Archaeological studies in Iran’s Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari province have revealed that the region's earliest stone artifacts date back to the Upper Paleolithic and early Neolithic periods, according to local cultural heritage authorities.

Sassanid-era Vigol fire temple undergoes restoration

TEHRAN – Restoration work has commenced on the Vigol fire temple, a rare archaeological site from the Sassanid era located in the central province of Isfahan, the provincial tourism chief said on Saturday.

Centuries-old qanats in Ardakan undergo restoration

TEHRAN – Restoration and rehabilitation work has begun on a series of historic qanats located in the old urban fabric of Ardakan, Yazd province, as part of a preservation initiative for the region’s ancient water infrastructure, local officials said.

Iranian paleontologist unveils world’s first fossilized bird mating dance in Miocene strata

TEHRAN - In a groundbreaking paleontological discovery, Iranian scientist Dr. Nasrollah Abbassi, researcher at the University of Zanjan, has uncovered the world’s first fossilized evidence of an ancient bird mating ritual—captured in stunning detail in the Miocene Upper Red Formation of northwestern Iran.

Taq-e Bostan sign installed in Turkey’s Gaziantep

TEHRAN - A sign representing Taq-e Bostan, one of Iran’s most significant Sasanian archaeological sites near Kermanshah, has been installed in a prominent square leading to the city’s airport in Gaziantep.

11,000-year-old secret revealed: Boars transported across Zagros for ritual feasts in western Iran

TEHRAN - A study by an international team has revealed that pre-agricultural communities at the Early Neolithic site of Asiab, near Kermanshah in western Iran (~9660–9340 cal BCE), engaged in complex logistical efforts to provision large-scale ritual feasts.

Rab'-e Rashidi: restoration campaign, land acquisition drive launched

Sang-e Chakhmaq's 8,000-year-old flute featured in museum's new video project

TEHRAN - The National Museum of Iran, in collaboration with the Public Relations Department of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, has begun producing a series of short videos to introduce its artifacts to the public.

Ancient clay jars unearthed following road erosion in western Iran

TEHRAN - Two large clay jars, possibly dating back to prehistoric times, have been discovered in Dehloran county of Ilam province, western Iran.