http://www.chn.ir/english/eshownews.asp?no=5003
Part of Ancient Persian Royal Road in Bolaghi Gorge
Archaeological studies on the ancient sites of Bolaghi Gorge, in Fars province, show that the residents of a village discovered there dating to the Achaemenid era, were rich people.
Bolaghi is an 18-kilometer-long gorge located 8 kilometers from the world heritage site of Pasargadae, and according to archaeologists, has been part of the King Road, the ancient major road built by order of Darius to connect Persepolis to Susa.
Evidence of cave dwellings and life in the prehistoric times up to the Islamic era exists in the site. Iranian and Italian experts have launched a project there to save the archaeological remains of the Gorge before it is lost forever when Sivand Dam is flooded in one year time.
In the first excavation season, Architectural features, plus some 8000 pieces of pot sherds have been found in an unearthed village dating to the Achaemenid era.
The discoveries prove that the residents of the area were rich, specially during the Achaemenid rule, the Iranian head of the joint team of experts, Alireza Asgari, told CHN. A jug, more than one meter high and weighing more than 50 kilograms have been unearthed in the store room of a house, which according to Asgari, shows that people stored lots of food each year.
Archaeologists have so far identified more than 129 ancient sites in the Gorge; however, only 100 square meters of the area underwent excavation during the first season of work there.
The second excavation season of Bolaghi Gorge is to start next October by cooperation of Iranians and Italians, to find more about the site before it is drowned forever.