Elamitologist Abdolmajid Arfa’i, decipherer of Cyrus Cylinder, dies at 86

TEHRAN – Professor Abdolmajid Arfa’i, Elamite scholar and prominent researcher of ancient Elamite and Akkadian languages, died on Wednesday, after a period of illness. He was 86.

Shiraz historical fabric plan registered in national archives

TEHRAN - A plan outlining integrated regulations for the protection, management and development of the historical fabric of Shiraz has been officially registered by the National Library and Archives of Iran, authorities said.

Work on Xerxes I tomb at Naqsh-e Rostam nears completion

TEHRAN – Restoration work on the rock-cut tomb of Achaemenid king Xerxes I is nearing completion after years of conservation efforts, a local official has said.

Heritage sites in Fars province to be monitored by drones

TEHRAN – Fars’ cultural heritage department is set to use drones and electronic monitoring systems to oversee nationally and globally registered heritage sites scattered across the southern Iranian province.

Mayamey and its centuries-old Persian caravanserais

TEHRAN--Mayamey in Semnan province, with its collection of historical caravanserais such as Mayamey, Miandasht, and Abbasabad, represents part of Iran’s cultural heritage.

Archaeologist says pomegranate origin traces back to the Iranian plateau

TEHRAN--Pomegranate is not only a plant native to the Iranian plateau, but also a symbol of civilization that has been present in Iranian culture as a symbol of fertility, blessing, and continuity of life, at least since the Iron Age until today, and rituals such as Yalda Night are a direct continuation of this ancient tradition.

Persepolis launches new conservation program using advanced material and imaging technology

TEHRAN – Iranian restoration teams have launched a new conservation program at the UNESCO-designated Persepolis and the nearby Naqsh-e Rostam site using advanced imaging, special material, and stone-analysis technologies, officials said on Saturday.

UNESCO recognition of Cyrus Cylinder highlights Iran’s role in human rights, museum director says

TEHRAN – The recent UNESCO recognition of the Cyrus Cylinder as one of the earliest documents on human rights is a source of national pride and a reaffirmation of Iran’s contribution to universal human values, the director of the National Museum of Iran said on Sunday.

UNESCO recognizes Cyrus Cylinder as one of world’s earliest human rights charters

TEHRAN - UNESCO’s General Conference on Thursday adopted a resolution recognizing the Cyrus Cylinder as one of the world’s earliest declarations promoting cultural diversity and human rights.

Iran, Tajikistan seek UNESCO label for Cyrus Cylinder, famed as world’s first charter of human right

TEHRAN – Iran and Tajikistan have jointly submitted a draft resolution to the 43rd session of UNESCO’s General Conference seeking recognition of the Cyrus Cylinder as a global symbol of early human rights and cultural diversity.

Nahavand ancient fortress to be revived in major restoration effort

TEHRAN – The ancient fortress of Nahavand, also known as the Yazdegerd Citadel, is set to undergo restoration as part of a significant cultural heritage initiative in west-central Iran.

Echoes of the past: Fragment of an Achaemenid relief                      

‘Narrators of Ancient Iran’ on view at National Museum

TEHRAN – A new exhibition titled “Narrators of Ancient Iran: A Selection of Objects from the National Museum” has opened its doors to the public at the vast, prestigious museum, which is located in downtown Tehran.

Archaeologists uncover early Elamite burial near Persepolis in southern Iran

TEHRAN - Archaeologists have discovered evidence of an early Elamite jar burial and traces of kiln waste at Tol-e Roubahi Kenareh, less than two km south of the UNESCO World Heritage site of Persepolis in southern Iran.

Rock carving of Sassanid ‘nobleman’ discovered in southern Iran

TEHRAN - A Sassanid-era rock carving estimated to be more than 1,500 years old has been discovered on the cliffs of Marvdasht in southern Iran’s Fars province, an Iranian historian said on Thursday.

Effort underway to safeguard Persepolis from ongoing erosion

TEHRAN – Iran is finalizing a comprehensive management and conservation plan for Persepolis, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Fars province, amid growing concerns from experts about erosion of its ancient stone reliefs, the site’s director said.

Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra to perform at Persepolis, minister confirms

TEHRAN – Iran’s Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts has said that the Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra will stage a concert on Sept. 6 at Persepolis, the UNESCO World Heritage site near Shiraz, to mark the orchestra’s 100th anniversary.

‘World’s smallest’ ancient inscription discovered in southern Iran

TEHRAN – An Iranian historian has announced the discovery of what he says is the “world’s smallest known ancient inscription”, a 1,600-year-old text carved on a rock wall in Marvdasht, Fars province, dating to the late Sassanid period.

Continuous human settlement in Hamedan confirmed from Achaemenid era to Present

THERAN – Archaeologists conducting excavations at the Baba Taher pedestrian pathway in Hamedan have uncovered evidence of continuous human settlement in the area dating from the Achaemenid period (circa 550–330 BC) to the present day, according to local experts.

Echoes of the past: gold rhyton in the form of a winged lion

TEHRAN - Drinking vessels of varied designs flourished throughout the Near East from the 1st millennium BCE well into the Islamic era.

Rare Sassanid-era inscription condemning break of promise discovered in Marvdasht, southern Iran

TEHRAN - A rare Sassanid-era inscription believed to condemn the act of betrayal and uphold the sanctity of loyalty and oaths has been discovered in the mountainous region of Marvdasht, Fars province, according to historian Dr. Abolhassan Atabaki.

German ambassador highlights archaeology as a cultural bridge between Tehran and Berlin

TEHRAN - German Ambassador to Iran, Markus Potzel, has described archaeology as a shared language of civilizations and a powerful bridge linking Iran and Germany through science and culture.

Land subsidence threatens Achaemenid sites in southern Iran

TEHRAN - Experts have raised alarms over accelerating land subsidence near two of Iran’s most iconic archaeological sites – Naqsh-e Rostam, the necropolis of the Achaemenid kings, and Persepolis, the UNESCO-registered ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire – as unsustainable agricultural practices continue in the fertile plains of Fars province.

Hegmataneh Museum unveils golden artifacts to mark Intl. Museum Day

TEHRAN - In celebration of International Museum Day, the Hegmataneh Museum in Hamedan province has unveiled three exquisite golden artifacts, offering visitors a rare glimpse into Iran’s rich cultural heritage spanning millennia.

Lost quarry believed to supply Achaemenid palace in Susa discovered in western Iran

TEHRAN - In a landmark archaeological breakthrough, Iranian researchers have discovered what is believed to be the long-lost quarry used to source the massive stones for Achaemenid-era masterpieces such as the palace of Darius the Great in the ancient city of Susa.

Archaeological studies begin on a discovered hole at Shushtar’s bus terminal

TEHRAN - Shushtar’s Department of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts has announced the initiation of archaeological and research studies on a hole discovered during construction work at the city’s bus terminal.

Redesign of Persepolis Museum underway

TEHRAN - The head of the Persepolis Museum has announced the initiation of a redesign project aimed at transforming the entire space of the palace attributed to Xerxes I, situated within the UNESCO-registered Persepolis, into a fully functional museum.