Ayapir, the world�s largest ancient rock relief museum!

 

This is the second time in the recent months that the region�s historic sites are being deliberately vandalized by an unknown party. Prior to this, the biggest Elamite cuneiform inscription carved on the rocks of Eshkaf-e Salman (Salman�s Cave), otherwise known as Tarisha Temple, was found speckled with paint. This historic site is located very close to Kool Farah; and from the very beginning, experts had predicted and warned that the same disaster could happen to the bas-reliefs of Kool Farah. The two sites are dated to the Elamite Kingdom (3400 BC-550 BC).

 

No serious measure has been taken so far for removing the paints from bas-reliefs of Eshkaf-e Salman. Furthermore, almost nothing was done to protect them from possible future damages. Such inconsiderate behavior on the part of the Iranian cultural heritage authorities has now resulted in the destruction of another Elamite evidence at the 3000-year-old archeological site of Kool Farah.

 

The Elamite intaglios of Kool Farah used to have a metal cover which meant to protect them against possible damages. The metal protector was removed to be replaced with a vacuumed glass cover. However, the new glass protector was never made as the idea could not win the approval of Iran�s Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization. Such negligence together with lack of security guards in the area have now severely put at risk the historic site of Kool Farah.      

 

Kool Farah is situated 7 kilometers southeast of Izeh in Khuzestan province and is one of the most important historical sites of this province. It is located in a valley surrounded by two engraved stone mountains.

 

According to Faramarz Khoshab, director of the Association of Cultural Heritage Supporters of Izeh, considering that the only person protecting the bas-reliefs of Kool Farah is a 70-year-old man who has minimum facilities, it is not a surprise to see such damages to this historic site.

 

This while director of the Cultural Heritage and Tourism Department of Khuzestan province told CHN that the Organization is determined to provide lighting apparatuses in the area to light up the bas-reliefs. He also said that more facilities will be given to the guard to prevent repetition of such tragedies.

 

Due to the existence of large numbers of inscriptions and bas-reliefs, Izeh is known as the �Museum of Persian Tablets;� however, protection of the city�s ancient evidence is nowhere near the top priorities of ICHTO.