TEHRAN—Police forces in Ardabil province have recovered 111 historical relics from unauthorized excavators during the first half of the current Iranian calendar year (started on March 21).

“A total of 111 historical objects have been recovered from illegal diggers across Ardabil province during the first half of the year,” CHTN quoted police commander Naser Shokri as saying on Saturday.

“Also, during this period, 1,093 pieces of counterfeit objects and 26 metal detectors were discovered and confiscated, which shows the extent of violations in this area and the vigilance of (cultural heritage) protection and security agents,” Shokri said.

“119 people have been arrested in connection with these discovered properties, of which 76 were natives and 43 were non-natives.”

Sprawling on a high, windswept plateau, Ardabil is well-known for having lush natural beauties, hospitable people, and its silk and carpet trade tradition. It is also home to the UNESCO-registered Sheikh Safi al-Din Khanegah and the Shrine Ensemble.

The pre-Islamic history of Ardabil is very obscure. An old tradition, according to Iranica, attributes its foundation to the Sasanian emperor Peroz/Firuz, son of Yazdegerd II (r. 459-84).

Persian historians have ascribed a founding date to the town of Ardabil in the Sasanian period, but its known history does not begin until the Islamic period. The city was taken by treaty by Imam Ali (c. 600–661), the fourth caliph and first Shia imam. It was at that time the residence of the Sasanian governor.

The Umayyad governor made Ardabil his capital, but the Arab hold on the region did not last. Local rulers fought continuously in the area until the Mongol conquest in 1220 when the town was destroyed. It lost all importance until the Sufi mystic Sheikh Safi al-Din made it the center of his Safavid order in the 13th century. After the Safavid dynasty came to power in Iran in the 16th century, Ardabil was especially enriched by gifts from Safavid rulers.

AM