TEHRAN - Chehel Dokhtaroon cave in Jahrom, known for its ancient rock paintings, has been officially recognized as a national heritage site, marking a significant legacy milestone for Fars province.

The cave, which features 50 rock paintings depicting animals, humans, abstract shapes, and plants, has been inscribed on the national heritage list, according to a local senior cultural heritage official.

“The Chehel Dokhtaroon cave has evidence of habitation from the prehistoric era through the Sassanid period,” Mohammad Sabet-Eqlidi brought to light.

The official further elaborated that the most significant findings in the cave are the ochre paintings on the southern wall, including geometric, animal, human, and plant motifs.

Most of these paintings, he continued, are abstract geometric shapes, repeated throughout the cave. Some of the motifs feature a common design with two extended arms, a semicircle or sometimes a square at the center, and multiple points or animal figures depicted around them.

Sabet-Eqlidi highlighted that some of the animal figures, possibly depicting deer, are worn due to erosion, while others represent hornless quadrupeds, depicted either individually or in groups, possibly suggesting hunting scenes. Interestingly, some abstract animals are drawn with circular heads, which could represent dogs, although such depictions are rare in the region.

“One of the standout depictions in the cave is a human figure riding an animal, likely a horse, which hints at the domestication of animals during the first millennium BC,” the official noted. “The cave also contains a few human figures, along with symbols resembling the sun, fire, and star-like objects.”

In addition to the intricate rock art, the cave features several stone basins at its end, used to collect spring water, he explained, adding that the irregularly shaped basins add further historical value to this remarkable site.

Chehel Dokhtaroon cave, located in the valley with the same name, extends 15 meters deep, covers an area of 200 square meters, and has a ceiling height of 12 meters at the entrance, tapering to 4 meters at the back due to the sloped floor. The cave is notable for its large entrance on the eastern side of the valley, nestled within the mountainous terrain.
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