In an interview with the Tehran-based English-language newspaper Iran Daily on Monday, Mohammad Jahanshahi added that apart from being a historical asset, it is a symbol of Iran's biodiversity.
'You can visit the warmest and coldest regions in Kerman, Mediterranean weather in Delfard Valley, dry desert climate in Shahdad, snow and frost in Lalehzar and mountain forests in Baft,' he said.
**Unique ecosystem
Keshit Valley, which is located near Keshit Village, has a unique ecosystem.
The dryness of Shahdads desert makes one assume that it could be a miserable place, but Keshit Valley in Lut Desert is actually a paradise in hell.
'We fear from introducing these pristine regions, because we are afraid of tourists rushing to these places and damaging its Nature. At first, we should make people imbibe the culture of accountability,' he said.
Keshit Valley is located on the southern bank of Lut Desert. If tourists seek to access this region by road, they should come from Shahdad.
Keshit Village has an old fabric. It has a castle by the same name belonging to the Seljuk era.
Jahanshahi said the valley overflows with small and big rivers, and waterfalls.
There is a waterfall ? with a height of 12 meters ? at the end of the valley where a pond full of limpid water is spread over 600 sq.m. Special ferns surround the pond.
Mohammad Eqbali, an environmentalist, said, 'Nowadays, officials and reporters are visiting this part of Kerman. Investors have also been invited to the region. It is good to launch tourism infrastructures, but we should not damage the Nature of Keshit Valley with construction materials such as cement and brick.
Eqbali noted that Kerman needs development of tourism industry, but its untouched natural regions should not be converted into recreational sites.
'Keshit is the only breathing place in the heart of the desert. We should not destroy it. Construction work should take place in the village, but not in the valley,' he said.
**Hottest spot
Gandom-e Beryan area in the desert of Shahdad is known to have recorded the highest temperature on the earths surface: 67 degrees centigrade in summer.
It is named after a hill with an area of 480 square kilometers, which is covered with blackened volcanic lava. The hill has been identified by Iranian expert, Professor Parviz Kordavani, as the worlds hottest place.
Though this declaration has been disputed, most scientists agree that the desert safely ranks as one of the hottest spots in the world.
Gandom-e Beryan or Rig-e Soukhteh is located 80 km north of Shahdad city in Lut Desert.
Because of a lack of access roads, only experts with high-tech facilities and locals familiar with desert routes visit the place.
Shahdad, the ancient name of which is Khabis, is located 100 km east of Kerman on the western side of Lut Desert.
Nobody thought an ancient civilization could exist in this desert until 1946. However, following studies conducted by the Geography Faculty of Tehran University in 1946, potteries discovered in Shahdad proved that a civilization flourished in Lut Desert.
**Excavation phases
Given the importance of the issue, a group of archeologists visited the area and conducted studies that lent credence to prehistoric settlement (end of 4th millennium BC and beginning of 3rd millennium BC).
Scientific and archeological excavations were conducted in this region during 1948-56.
Cemeteries belonging to 2nd and 3rd millennium BC and copper furnaces were discovered in the eight excavation phases.
Relics discovered in Shahdads cemeteries included numerous potteries and brassware.
Seventeen years after the victory of Islamic Revolution in 1979, archeological explorations were resumed in Shahdad.
The four subsequent excavation phases, which uncovered houses and workshops, clarified many ambiguities regarding the architecture and settlement of Shahdads people.
One of the areas was named Farmers District, after ancient ploughs and enclosed lands were discovered there.
Another was named Jewelers District following the excavation of precious beads.
Archeologists have unearthed many valuable architectural remnants and relics from 3rd millennium BC after completing a total of 10 excavation phases.
Shahdads ancient region is spread over 60 kilometers in the heart of Lut Desert. The city includes workshops, residential districts and cemeteries.
Archeological studies in the residential district known as City of Dwarfs revealed the presence of sub-districts in which jewelers, craftsmen and farmers lived.
Inhabitants of the City of Dwarfs abandoned the area 5,000 years ago due to drought conditions and never returned.
Over 800 ancient graves have been excavated there during the excavation phases.
**Strange architecture
An interesting aspect about the City of Dwarfs in Shahdad is the strange architecture of its houses, alleys and equipment discovered.
Its walls, ceilings, furnaces, shelves and the equipments used could only be used by dwarfs.
After news about the City of Dwarfs spread, rumors circulated about the discovery of a dwarfs remains.
The case involved a dwarf mummy with a height of 25 cm, which the smugglers attempted to sell for 80 billion rials in Germany.
However, two smugglers were arrested in this regard and the mummy was confiscated.
Subsequently, Kermans Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Department and police officials sat down to clarify the condition of the mummy that is estimated to belong to a 17-year-old person.
After a lapse of 5,000 years since the departure of dwarfs from the city, a large swathe of this prehistoric region lies buried and the migration of Shahdads dwarfs remains clouded in mystery.
Many would like to know why the dwarfs covered the doors of their homes with mud and never returned.
This requires allocation of funds for conducting further archeological studies in the City of Dwarfs.
By IRNA
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