TEHRAN— In the fourth season of the excavation of Tepe Sialk in Kashan, central Iran, some workshops have been selected as the focus of research; a continuation of last year's excavations with the aim of more accurately and deeply understanding the newest layers of the site. So far, valuable findings have been obtained from these sections.

According to Mehr News Agency, among the most important achievements is the discovery of a workshop space from the Third Sialk Period (about 5500-5300 years ago). 
This space was identified as approximately 2.5 by 3 meters in size, and the presence of a horseshoe-shaped oven with the heated parts indicates a workshop related to the metallurgical industry, especially copper.

Also discovered in this chapter is a large, layered mastaba from the Sixth Sialk Period (about 2800-2600 years ago). 

Evidence suggests that this structure, in conjunction with the construction of the massive adobe building and the clay water trough identified in the second chapter, was part of a comprehensive and organized development program during the Median period.

Other findings in this chapter include the discovery of a possibly residential space with adobe walls beneath a stratified mastaba, two rooms of which have been identified so far and excavations are ongoing.

The third phase of the project to review Tepe Sialk began with the aim of answering fundamental archaeological questions and providing conditions for displaying the artifacts for visitors, and is now in its fourth season.

This project was launched as a long-term research program in 2001. The first phase of this project was completed between 2001 and 2005, and its second phase continued between 2008 and 2009. The third phase began in 2022 and its fourth season is currently underway.

The main goal of this phase is to answer specialized and fundamental archaeological questions about the central region of Iran from the Neolithic period to the beginning of the Achaemenid period. 

In addition, creating the necessary conditions and facilities to display the discovered artifacts to domestic and foreign tourists is also on the agenda. 

By the end of the fourth chapter, it is expected that a more accurate and comprehensive understanding of the life of the inhabitants of Sialk in the final stages of settlement in this valuable ancient site of Iran will be achieved; an understanding that is considered a fundamental step towards reinterpreting the history of the ancient civilization of the Central Plateau.

KD