Twelve years of exploration and investigation by the universities of Shiraz and Bologna in Italy have led to significant discoveries for the reconstruction of the ancient city of Parseh (Persepolis), including the ruins of the remarkable 12-meter gate of this beautiful and magnificent city.
According to an IRNA reporter, Alireza Askari Chavardi, a professor of archaeology at Shiraz University and manager of the Persepolis World Heritage Site, spoke at the Science Night event at Shiraz University, stating, “Persepolis represents the greatness of Iran’s history, especially considering its central role in the Pars civilization during Iran’s peak. Its glory was meant to shine, making it historically significant for us.”
He further added, “During this period, Iran’s borders extended to the Indus and Indus valleys on one side and the Danube River on the other. All significant parts of Africa and Arabia were under Iranian sovereignty. The kinship ties we observe in the Middle East are a direct result of the Achaemenid era. Indeed, it can be said that Persepolis is a product of the Middle East, showcasing the region’s diverse arts and heritage as a part of this world heritage site.”
Askari Chavardi continued, “The artistic traditions of pre-Achaemenid civilizations converged in Persepolis, creating a model that remains at the heart of Iran to this day. On one side of Shiraz lies the two-thousand-year-old city of ‘Anshan,’ while on the other side, we have Persepolis, southwest of Bishapur, along with Kazeroun, Firouzabad, the city of Gor—the capital of the Sasanians—and in the southeast, Darabgard. All these sites demonstrate that Shiraz is a product of these diverse civilizations.”
The supervisor of the excavation of the ancient city of Parseh recalled, “At the history and archaeology department of Shiraz University, we aimed to conduct research projects focused on the axis from Persepolis to Susa, an axis of great importance. This direction is indicated by the clay inscriptions found in Perspolis.”
Askari Chavardi added “In the clay inscriptions that were recently returned to the National Museum of Iran by the president from the University of Chicago, these ancient cities—from Persepolis to Susa—are mentioned.”
The achievements of 12 years of archeology in the ancient city of Parseh
The professor of history and archaeology at Shiraz University stated, ” The city of Parseh is a significant urban center surrounding the remain os Persepolis ruins. It is also mentioned as a city in all the tablets discovered from Persepolis.”
He continued, “This city functioned as a vast garden campus, and perhaps Shiraz serves as a heritage of the ancient city of Parseh, which has preserved such urban patterns within its core.”
Emphasizing the importance of the discoveries, Askari Chavardi remarked, “Today, we are witnessing the tombs of Achaemenid kings in the city of Parseh, and the throne of Persepolis is also located in this city. Our efforts in the joint project with the University of Bologna in Italy over the past 12 years aimed to locate Persepolis to better understand the city. Through this collaborative archaeological project, we identified the ruins of the city of Parseh, which are now cultivated lands. Notably, the city’s gate was discovered in a location that was previously unpredictable for us. The discovery of the gate of Parseh is a significant finding.”
Askari noted, “Throughout the city of Parseh, master’s and doctoral students from Shiraz and Bologna universities collaborated under my supervision and that of Professor Pier Francesco Cagliari to successfully reconstruct the layout of this ancient city.”
He explained “In this project, all the lands were geophysically scanned, and wherever geophysical anomalies were detected, further exploration was conducted. We now know that Parseh was a garden city equipped with irrigation systems, villas, and gardens. Not only did the throne of Persepolis exist here, but the city of Parseh also followed the urban model of Pardis. These excavations yielded a wealth of information regarding historical artifacts, revealing objects and signs indicating that there was a workshop for constructing everything used in building the throne of Persepolis within the city of Parseh.”
The Excavated Gate of Parseh to Become a Museum Site
The supervisor of the exploration of Parseh city announced the discovery of the magnificent gate of the ancient city, stating, “While we have only found its ruins today, our reconstruction efforts indicate that the gate of Parseh city measured approximately 30 by 40 meters and stood 12 meters high.”
Askari Chavardi continued, “Not only were Takht Jamshid and the Pardis campus stunning, but the gate itself was also magnificent, adorned with decorations and vibrant colors.”
The director of the World Heritage Site of Persepolis remarked, “This discovery emerged from our archaeological excavations over the past 12 years, and we plan to transform it into a museum site, which will be included in the collection of Ashtrak city, Naqsh-e Rostam, and the historical city of Parseh.”
He added, “Throughout the last 12 years of excavations in Parseh city, we have identified numerous ancient sites containing buildings from the Achaemenid period. This highlights the importance of maintaining the premier status of Persepolis and the necessity for its protection.”
He stated, “The plan of the Parseh gate, which was excavated over the course of 12 years, has been reconstructed. By analyzing this plan, we can observe many symbols reminiscent of the Gate of Babylon, including the god Marduk, various color schemes, and numerous other motifs within this structure. The gate was utilized in Parseh.”
The supervisor of the exploration of Parseh city, a joint effort between Shiraz University and the University of Bologna, Italy, added, “Our objective for this project was the reconstruction of the city of Parseh.”
Askari Chavardi mentioned “According to our findings, we predict that there is a city in Parseh, as a crucial ancient city of Iran.”
Exploring the Ancient Hills of Parseh and Historical Discoveries Before Darius Achaemenid
The professor of history and archaeology at Shiraz University, referring to some images and symbols discovered at the Ishtar Gate of Babylon in present-day Iraq, stated, “We continued our research in the heart of the ancient hills, which are now visible as ancient ruins, and made an important discovery just three kilometers from the throne of Persepolis.”
He added, “During these excavations, we identified numerous ancient sites, including buildings from the Achaemenid period. This is why we have consistently emphasized the premier status of Persepolis and the necessity of protecting it.”
Askari Chavardi remarked, “The current landscape indicates that there is a city in Parseh, making its identification crucial. In the heart of the ancient area, which is still cultivated today, we discovered a structure made of glazed bricks, which is of significant value.”
The supervisor of the excavation of the ancient city of Parseh noted, “We identified 170 bricks within this structure, each containing various inscriptions.”
Askari Chavardi mentioned “Considering that Darius the Achaemenid, was the first to introduce the ancient Persian script on the Iranian plateau, the presence of Babylonian and Elamite inscriptions in this excavation indicates that parts of this ancient city were constructed before Darius’s time.”
