TEHRAN - Kerman province’s tourism chief announced on Monday that efforts have begun for a possible registration of the ancient site of Old Jiroft, also known as Dakyanus in the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Saeid Shahrokhi, made the remarks on the sidelines of his visit to Old Jiroft, adding that the provincial directorate for tourism and cultural heritage seeks to turn the vast site into a natural archaeological park.

“It will be the first natural archaeological park to be inaugurated in the country,” the official said.

Situated in southern Iran, Jiroft is widely believed to be a cradle of civilization, holding invaluable historical and cultural significance.

The official highlighted that both administrative and scientific processes are underway to gather and document the data required for UNESCO registration. He emphasized the need to integrate archaeological findings with scientific data to ensure a comprehensive foundation for the proposed park.

“The Jiroft Plain is an interconnected expanse where various regions such as Dakyanus, Konar Sandal, and other areas cannot be viewed separately,” Shahrokhi explained. “Human life has persisted in this plain for thousands of years, making it a unique setting for historical continuity and cultural richness.”

Earlier this year, the legal boundaries of the ancient Jiroft were determined after nearly half a century, and as the result of a systematic archaeological work.

The ancient city of Dakyanus (aka Daqyanoos) is located along the banks of the Halil River, adjacent to the modern city of Jiroft. The Jiroft culture, also known as the Intercultural style or the Halilrud style, is an early Bronze Age (3rd millennium BC) archaeological culture located in what is now the provinces of Sistan-Baluchestan and Kerman.

Until the early 21st century, no one had ever imagined that a refined, forgotten culture could re-emerge from the sands of a remote and arid region in southeast Iran.

The story started when heavy floods swept away the topsoil, revealing thousands of previously unknown tombs in a Bronze Age cemetery in Jiroft. The remarkable findings at Jiroft demanded a reassessment of the earlier interpretation that Mesopotamia was the sole cradle of civilization.

In 2001, a flood of archaeological objects began appearing on the antiquities market, seemingly out of nowhere.

In a short time, distinctive pieces of jewelry, weapons, finely crafted ceramics, drinking vessels, and game boards featuring unusual artistry and magnificent inlays of carnelian and lapis lazuli found their way to antique markets for sale.

These extraordinary pieces displayed a complex symbology of animals, both wild and domesticated, depicted fighting among themselves or with human figures, the humans always triumphant. There were beautifully realized bucolic scenes of animals grazing in vast palm groves and architectural reproductions of temples or palaces.

Data provided by the internet sites and auction houses selling these mysterious pieces is sparse and, at best, vague. Their origins were often listed as “from Central Asia.”

At first, it was assumed that the pieces were the work of expert forgers. However, as more items appeared on the market in the following months, scholars began to speculate that they could be genuine, originating from an undocumented site. In 2002, more artifacts appeared on the market.

Iranian police solved the mystery later that year. A coordinated investigation led to the arrest of several traffickers and the confiscation of a hoard of artifacts. These objects were being prepared for shipment from Tehran, Bandar Abbas, and Kerman to buyers around the world. Investigators revealed that most of these distinctive pieces could be traced back to the Halil River Valley, about 25 miles south of Jiroft, a remote and peaceful city in southeastern Iran, not far from the Persian Gulf.

Layers of sediment were washed away, exposing the remains of an ancient cemetery. Locals and looters quickly recognized the importance of the find and moved to collect and sell the artifacts they had found.

AM