@@ Discovery of a Sassanid city in Dasht-e Moghan @@

Iranian Cultural Heritage News Agency (CHN)
December 22, 2005

Discovery of a Sassanid City in Dasht e Moghan

http://heritage.chn.ir/en/manage/photo/oltan-ardebil15(3)[1].jpg
Latest archaeological excavations in historical site of Oltan Qalasi in Ardabil led
to the discovery of a big city belonging to the Sassanid era.


Tehran -- The recent archeological excavations in the historical site of Oltan
Qalasi, resulted in the discovery of a big city which dates back to the Sassanid era.
The wall and one of the gates of Qalasi Citadel were discovered during the
excavations, while prior to this archeologists were expecting to find a city fortress
on the plain.

There is a historical fortress in the Oltan Qalasi historical site, located in the
southern shore of Aras river which contains of some valuable architectural evidence
such as a tower and earthen shell keeps. The fortress was completely unearthed during
two seasons of excavations.

?The new archaeological studies indicate that Oltan Qalasi should have been a very
big city at the end of the Sassanid era and the beginning of Islamic period. This big
city consists of two parts: citadel and rabaz or residential area. The citadel is a
400 x 800 meter rectangle. Archaeologists believe that it must have been the Sassanid
Orsan city?, said Karim Alizadeh, head of excavation team of Oltan Qalasi.

A trench with a variable width up to 10 meters was found surrounding the citadel. All
of these characteristics prove the existence of a big city on the plain, which,
including its surroundings, is estimated to have covered a 70 hectare area.

?The aerial and satellite photographs indicate that the city is much bigger than
previously thought. Its scatterdness is a proof to this claim as well. The satellite
photographs show that the citadel was situated in the center of the city and two
irrigation channels were connected to the citadel from two sides,? added Alizadeh.

Based on archaeological studies conducted in the site, the city was constructed
according to the models of Iranian city planning before and during the Islamic
period. During the ancient times, citadel was always considered as the residential
place of the governing body of the city and rabaz was the residential area of the
ordinary people. Prior to this, the archaeologists believed that they will face a
city fortress which is consisted of a citadel with a trench around it.

?Historical and geographical studies indicate the existence of another city in Dasht
e Moghan (Moghan Plain). According to the studies, the characteristics are similar to
those of Orsan city belonging to the Sassanid era. However, we can not say for sure
that it is the same city. Based on the historical evidence, Orsan city was located 12
kilometers south of Arash River, while the excavations have been carried out very
close to the Aras River?, explained Alizadeh.

It is likely that Aras River originally had a 12 kilometer distance from this city
and the basin of this river has changed in the past 2000 years.

?More studies are needed to find out where the basin of Aras River was at the end of
Sassanid era. Then we can determine the history of the city for sure?, explains
Alizadeh.

Archaeological excavations led to the discovery of one of citadel?s gates with 4
meters in width. The gate was restored and reconstructed later, especially during the
Islamic era. No Islamic architectural remains have been found in the area so far.
However, the discovered relics, most of which are clays, and Islamic coins found
during the previous excavations indicate that the city should have been active during
the Islamic period.

Oltan Qalasi historical city dates back to the Sassanid era. It is situated in a big
village, 15 kilometer from the southeast of Parsabad and in Dasht-e Moghan area.
Oltan Citadel is located at a distance of 500 meters from the village and very close
to the Aras River.

http://www.chn.ir/en/news/?section=2&id=6053


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