IRNA - The head of archeological exploration team in the underground troglodyte dwellings in Sefid Shahr (Nasrabad), also known as the underground city in Aran and Bidgol, Isfahan Province, announced the discovery of artifacts dating back to the 6th and 7th centuries Hegira.


The Public Relations Office of the Research Institute of Cultural Heritage and Tourism (RICHT) quoted Majid Montazer Zohouri as saying on Tuesday that explorations were conducted in the Sefid Shahr underground troglodyte dwellings in the two separate workshops, the first of which was under the building known as “Baqqal”.

He said the building used to be the workshop of carpet weaving and today is known as “Chahar Taqi”, a major part of which was identified in the previous season of explorations.

Montazer Zohouri further remarked that exploration in the workshop continued in the north and south parts in two fronts which were led to the discovery of other sectors of the troglodyte.

He referred to the clay works of the 6th and 7th centuries Hegira which were found in current part of the explorations, examples of which include turquoise pottery as well as the pottery glazed with turquoise color.

The archeologist also announced the discovery of a golden piece of tile from the northern section of the building which probably is among samples made in the city of Kashan in the 6th and 7th centuries Hegira (the Khwarazmian and the Ilkhan).

According to him, due to the destruction process for urban development, explorations were hindered and for this reason the geospatial interdisciplinary studies were conducted by the use of GPR method which are currently underway.

Referring to the use of experience of the local people, he noted that in addition to interdisciplinary studies, the second workshop was selected in the southern part of the building.

Montazer Zohouri said the space identified in this section has a cruciate plan with the annexed spaces which are filled with debris and thus severely damaged.

He said the space has a circular roof, in the center of which there is a well that runs to the surface of the earth.

He also noted to the findings of the workshop and referred to the findings dating back to the late Islamic centuries up to the middle centuries.