Research about nearly 5 thousand pieces of historical artifacts found in the excavations of the research group in the central axis of Chaharbagh in 1398 (2019) remains incomplete.
Mohsen Javari, the former head of the Chaharbagh archaeological team, in an interview with Mehr news agency, stated that the archaeological excavations in the middle axis of Chaharbagh began in December 2019; he said: Our excavations and what the research team thought were historical in this axis were done, but in continuation the research remained half done.
He added: In the winter of 2019, in these excavations, nearly five thousand artifacts such as pottery, tiles, coins, metal pieces, glass, etc., were found, all of which should be researched, documented, and designed, but unfortunately, the research was stopped in February of the same year, and this part It was unfinished.
This archaeologist continued: We created six trenches for excavations in the middle axis of Chaharbagh, the length of which varied from seven to 15 meters, and the places that had to be added to the length of the trench to explore more of Chaharbagh Street, Trenches were added, and all this remained unfinished.
Javari added: In this axis’s deep trench section of the stratification borehole, quite a number of bones remains were found, which had valuable information about the species of wildlife and people who lived in this area 6 thousand years ago.
Reminding that these bone remains were found in the lowest layer of the deep borehole, he continued: These remains belonged to goats, sheep, cows, and horses that we collected, and now they have been sent to the French Academy of Sciences for research.
The officials of Isfahan municipality for renovation and improvement, who were supposed to and had committed to provide funds for continuation of this research, announced that they could not provide the required credit for some reasons. The investigation remained on the ground, although they have now promised that it would be done.
The seasonal drought of the Zayandehroud River 15 thousand years ago
Stating that the history of the city of Isfahan is based on archeological findings and remains obtained so far, go back to 6,000 years ago, Javari added: “Zayandehrood has been one of the rivers throughout history, that many of its sites have been the focus of urban community and human groups, and numerous settlements have been formed next to it for 60,000 years ago.”
He pointed out that many cities and villages along the route of this river from source to Gavkhooni Wetland were found because of the existence of this river, and added: “Historical findings show that Zayandehrood has faced drought in its history, and based on the data from the basin of Zayandehrood it happened seasonally about 15,000 years ago, and this season drought fully dried up the Gavkhooni area and limited cattle breeding, but it should be noted that the current situation is more severe and we have not had such drought throughout its history.”
The member of the academic board of archeology of Kashan University, referred to the start of the drying up of Zayandehrood in Isfahan in 1379 (2000) and added: There is a prehistoric hill at the source of Zayandehroud Rood in Chadegan city, one of the most critical hills, and its traces date back to the sixth millennium BC. It is a cultural point and a crossroads of civilization; on this hill, there are traces of prehistoric cultures of the Central Plateau. In 1379, the top of this hill, which is 20 meters high, rose from the water, and I went there by boat, for example. Now there is no trace of water for kilometers up to this hill, and Zayandehrood River is our national wealth, which is lost in these past years, while we know that our ancestors knew well how to conserve water.
Referring to the impact of the subsidence of Isfahan on the historical monuments of this historical city, this archaeologist expressed hope that the water of Isfahan will be compensated for, and the subsidence and other environmental problems of Isfahan will be resolved.
Javari also stated that the authenticity and genuineness of Chaharbagh in Isfahan has to be preserved and pointed out: the passage of the subway tunnel from a depth of 14 meters on this street does not have much effect on the historical context, but our problem is that since the beginning of the metro work, we have repeatedly reminded the authorities that Chaharbagh is historic, and its authenticity should not be affected. Each of the subway stations has a concrete surface that his destructive and an underground concrete surface that is even more destructive; we have repeatedly said that the subway should no pass from this area and the authenticity of Chaharbagh should be preserved.
According to Mehr, in 2018, following the archaeological excavations conducted under the supervision of Mohsen Javari on the historical floor of Chaharbagh Street, just opposite Amadgah Street and El-Ghebanal Square, data and documents from the Safavid period such as the brick carpet floor and the brick pavement of the Qajar period were found. It was added to the Safavid section. Also, in one of the trenches created in Chaharbagh, a borehole was dug to a depth of four meters, and a lot of information was obtained from this deep stratification in Chaharbagh.
In this operation, historical remains from the fourth millennium BC, six thousand years ago, and remains from the Sassanid period were discovered in Chaharbagh, which are significant for clarifying the history of Isfahan’s urban development. Still, these two excavations were limited only to the longitudinal axis of Chaharbagh Street. The entire area of Chaharbagh and the longitudinal axis is in serious need of archaeological excavations.
