The precise location of Gabri Hill in Rey, nearly 90 years after it was first excavated by an American archaeological team, has been successfully identified.
The director of the Rey National Site announced that Gabri Hill—believed to be the tomb of Mardavij Ziyari—has now been accurately mapped. The site was originally excavated between 1934 and 1936 (1313–1315 SH) under the supervision of Eric Schmidt, head of the American expedition.
Qadir Afravand told ISNA that on Wednesday, Mehr 2, 1404, his team managed to relocate one of Rey’s most important Islamic-era hills and historical monuments. He emphasized that this achievement was made possible through the scientific collaboration of Zadsaleh, a young Iranian volcanologist with a PhD, and expressed his gratitude for his contribution to Rey’s archaeological research.
Afravand also noted that, despite Schmidt’s excavation almost nine decades ago, years of neglect and lack of attention to the research led to the site being largely forgotten. Sadly, uncontrolled rural construction has resulted in significant damage to this historically valuable site.
The director of the Rey National Site emphasized that historians and scholars of Rey’s rich cultural and civilizational heritage have waited for decades to learn the fate of this historic hill. Its rediscovery today, while significant, comes with profound regret. He called on officials at the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Tourism to give this vital site the attention it deserves and to allow further investigation and excavation.
He noted that the late Dr. Kariman, author of the important book Ancient Rey, along with other Rey scholars, believed the site to be the tomb of Mardavij Ziyari (murdered in 323 AH). After his assassination in Isfahan, Mardavij’s body was reportedly transported to Rey for burial. This monumental structure represents one of Iran’s earliest high-rise funerary monuments—predating the Gonbad-e Qabus—and is not the only example; at least one other tomb of similar height was built in Rey for Hasan Rukn al-Dawla of the Buyid dynasty. From an architectural and historical perspective, these tombs, along with the 118 discovered graves in Rey’s historic lower cemetery, are of immense significance. Sadly, neglect and unplanned construction have caused the loss or destruction of many of these invaluable sites.
Afravand urged that further destruction must be prevented. He stressed that safeguarding Rey’s heritage and pursuing its designation as a World Heritage site would not only protect its historical legacy but also support sustainable social and economic development, helping to restore Rey’s prominence on the global stage—a hope long cherished by its devoted citizens.
