Arab countries such as Qatar have tried to purchase considerable number of research and excavation ships and expand underwater archeology. Saudi Arabia has even bought a 1,000-ton research vessel and made significant investments in underwater archeology. They may not reveal their important discoveries yet, but we will undoubtedly see the release of important news about this from the Arab countries soon. They have been working in the Persian Gulf for a long time and have named all creatures in their language. Soon we will see the Arabs advancing in the field of archeology under the Persian Gulf, while Iran, like archeology in the coastal areas of the Persian Gulf, will have nothing to say.
The above is a warning from an Iranian archaeologist about the latest threat from the Arab world to the name of Persian Gulf.
Hossein Tofighian, a member of the faculty of the Archaeological Research Institute (Institute of Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism), believes that: “If we think that we can study archeology and history but not underwater archeology, we have missed an essential part of our history.” This is while the most scientific work to prove the legitimacy of the Iranians in the Persian Gulf is to lead underwater archaeological studies.
According to the ILNA correspondent, Hossein Tofighian noted the importance of paying attention to underwater archeology and said: “Obviously, a country that has more than 3,000 kilometers of water border and has two seas in the north and south should pay proper attention to underwater archeology.” On the one hand, we have the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman with a history of several thousand years in the field of maritime and shipping history in the south of the country. On the other hand, we have the Caspian Sea, although with less history in the north. We also have many lakes and rivers that house a variety of historical monuments.
He continued: “Iran has the biggest potential for underwater archeology research. In ancient times, Iran was like a bridge between Eastern and Western civilizations, and part of the trade-in the ancient world took place within the Persian Gulf. So if we think we can do archeology and history but not underwater archeology, we have certainly missed an essential part of our history. Because just as a part of Iran’s history and civilization has been formed on the Iranian plateau, a necessary part of Iran’s history has also been included in the sea and human interaction with the sea.
This member of the Marine Archeology Group, noting that Iran has been a member of the World Convention for the Protection of the Cultural and Natural Heritage (UNESCO) since 2009, talked about the commitment that this membership has made to Iran. We must have an organization and a group that can work professionally in this field.
Tofighian, who has been working in the field of Iranian Marine archeology and Persian Gulf archeology for many years, pointed out the issues we are facing in the Persian Gulf and reminded: “We have been witnessing the distortion of the name of the Persian Gulf in the international arena for many years.” The Arab countries are carrying out this distortion. If a researcher searches for the name of Persian Gulf, he will encounter few results, but if he will search for the fake name, he will discover thousands of books and articles, which is unfortunate. Hence, marine archeology is one of the platforms through which we can work on the Persian Gulf. One of the best and most scientific ways to prove the legitimacy of the Iranians in the Persian Gulf is to conduct marine archaeological research.
The assistant professor insisted that the Arab countries have already advanced their activities in terrestrial archeology, announced their entry into the field of underwater archeology, and said that Arab countries such as Qatar are looking to buy large study and research ships and underwater archeology have expanded. Saudi Arabia has even purchased a 1,000-ton research vessel and made significant investments in underwater archeology. They may not reveal their important discoveries yet, but we will undoubtedly see the release of important news about this from the Arab countries soon. With the current trend, we will quickly see the Arabs advancing in underwater archeology in the Persian Gulf, while Iran, like archeology in the area of the coasts of the Persian Gulf, will have nothing to say. I wish Iran could have at least a small organization and preserve the marine archeology group.
In response to the question of whether Iran’s vacancy in the field of underwater archeology in the Persian Gulf can provide grounds for expanding the activities of Arab countries and countries around the Persian Gulf in the field of underwater archeology, as some of Iran’s assets to confiscate their name, he said: “It will be like this. They have just started underwater archeology, and we will see some important news in the coming months. They have been working in the Persian Gulf for a long time and have named all living things in Arabic letters. I heard that some countries, such as Qatar, are trying to collect all kinds of traditional ships and boats from all over the Persian Gulf and the coasts of Iran. They are even trying to order and buy stone anchors to enrich their museums.”
