Based on the results of speculation around the northwest ridge of Tappeh Khalil and considering the route of the water transfer pipe as well as the cultural materials spread on the surface of the area, the cultural layers of the northwest ridge were not very vast, which were severely destroyed and completely disappeared during the implementation of the tropical project.
According to Ilna’s report and according to the public relations of the Research Institute of Cultural Heritage and Tourism, in line with the implementation of the agricultural development plan in the western foothills of Zagros known as the “tropical plan,” a speculative program was carried out to and determine the boundary of Tappeh Khalil.
Zabih Bakhtiari, head of the archaeological team, said: Tappeh Khalil is located at the intersection of two plains of Zahab and Sarpole-Zahab (Southern Zahab), among the agricultural lands of Zarin Jub village.
He said: “This cultural and historic site, with an area of nearly 4 hectares, today is in the form of a mound with a low but wide height, amid agricultural land, and its surface plus the surrounding area is cultivated by the farmers of that region.
The archaeologist added: Based on the permission of the Research Institute of Cultural Heritage and Tourism, the field activity of this program began, and after 25 days of field activity, 20 boreholes were created around Tappeh Khalil within the scope of the area and sanctum of the site.
Bakhtiari pointed out that most of the boreholes were created at a distance of nearly 5 meters from the last slope of the hill and where it joins the marginal lands. He added: To explore the boreholes, complications, surface evidence, and the distribution of pottery fragments and cultural materials on the edge of the hill were considered.
He stated: The result of this exploration of all the boreholes created, both around the hill and at a distance from the last slope, as well as the boreholes made within the outer area of the site, was negative and did not reveal any traces and evidence of the cultural layer of the site.
The head of the archeology board considered the results of the boreholes to be an indication that the remains of cultural artifacts were formed on the surface of a natural ridge and the cultural layers were not continued on the edge of the hill and reminded: after the exploration of the arable surface accumulation, in most of the boreholes silty-clay sediment deposits, The result of natural sedimentary processes was clarified, which does not have cultural traces and evidence.
He reminded: the pieces of pottery and cultural materials obtained from the exploration of boreholes are mostly related to the surface and arable layers and, in some cases, the subsurface layer in the form of water-washed and sediment.
This archaeologist pointed out that in the past years (2017), the plan for the passage of water pipes (Tropical Plan) was implemented on the surface of the north-west mound of Tappeh Khalil. The north-western half of the area was destroyed and excavated with a machine and said: “The scattered cultural material and the pieces of pottery seen on the surface of the site, especially the north-western mound, are the result of encroachments and occupations in the area and the destruction of cultural layers.”
He said: based on the results of speculation on the edge of the northwest ridge and route of the water pipe, as well as the cultural materials scattered on the surface of the area, the cultural layers of the northwest ridge were not very extensive, which were completely destroyed during implementation of the “tropical project”.
In the end, Bakhtiari mentioned: Based on the research of cultural materials collected from the site’s surface and emerging from the exploration of boreholes, the cultural layers of Tappeh Khalil represent the Ubaid and Uruk cultures period and engraved pea-color pottery and bowls with curved edges.
