TEHRAN – Archaeologists have found traces of a city, estimated to date back to the 3rd millennium BC, in Qareh Qozlu historical site, West Azarbaijan, northwestern Iran, an Iranian archaeologist has said.

This 30-hectare site of Qareh Qozlu, located near the same name village in Miandoab county and southeast of Lake Urmia, is regarded as one of the most important and prominent archaeological sites of the region, especially during the Bronze Age, when urbanization began, Ebrahim Kharazi said on Wednesday.

The vast area of the site, the presence of bone tools, furnace welds, and burnt and smoked pottery show that this area was one of the important industrial and production centers in the Bronze Age, he added.

Different geometric, animal, and plant patterns are visible on the discovered relics, demonstrating the creativity and strength of the makers, he mentioned.

Water sources and underground mines in this area have helped the production of various artifacts, he explained.

There is evidence that specialized and mass production occurred in this area based on the proximity to water sources, production techniques, form, and the decorations on the discovered pottery, he noted.

A large part of this area was dedicated to the production of stone tools, bones, shells, pottery, and cooking and storage activities, he said.

West Azarbaijan embraces a variety of lush natural sceneries, cultural heritage sites, and museums including the UNESCO sites of Takht-e Soleyman and Qareh Klise (St. Thaddeus Monastery), Teppe Hasanlu and the ruined Bastam Citadel.

The region was home to several ancient civilizations. According to Britannica, it was conquered by Alexander the Great in the 4th century BC and was named Atropatene after one of Alexander’s generals, Atropates, who established a small kingdom there. Ultimately, the area returned to Persian (Iranian) rule under the Sasanians in the 3rd century CE.

ABU/AM