Hundreds of new archaeological sites are discovered yearly, with some bringing
about huge debate in the academic world. One unusual and complex civilization did
precisely this when it was first discovered along a river valley in Iran back in 2003.
This ancient Iranian city has gone on to rewrite history in the region due to its
apparent connections with Mesopotamia. Some researchers have even suggested that both
of these cultures may trace their origin back to an even older civilization. But
just what does this ancient city in Iran tell us? Let's find out.
Intro To Jiroft: Iran's Lost Civilization
Generally, archaeologists are tipped off about an usual discovery that can later on
become a site of great interest. Sometimes a local resident of the area will point to
an interesting feature on the landscape, or maybe even a few pieces of pottery turn up,
indicating that the area was once inhabited at a point in the distant past. But archeologists
weren't ready for what would eventually come to light back in 2001 when out of nowhere, unique
and intriguing archaeological items began flooding the antique market of Iran. Listed for sale were
distinct and well-made pieces of jewellery, finely crafted ceramics, vessels, weapons,
and highly decorated board games inlaid with lapis lazuli and carnelian. Many of these extraordinary
pieces were engraved or decorated with the complex symbology of both humans and animals,
reminding one of the impressive depictions made in cultures such as Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt.
Following speculation by scholars and researchers about the artefacts,
an investigation was set up by the Iranian police. Detectives would eventually track down many of the
auction houses and online sites selling these pieces. The detectives had arrested many of
the traffickers and recovered a vast amount of artefacts. Investigators revealed in the same
year that many of these artefacts could be traced back to a location in Iran's Halil River Valley,
approximately twenty-five miles south of Jiroft. But where did the mysterious items come from?
As archaeologists and researchers knew of no digs in the area? However, upon closer inspection,
it became apparent to the researchers who were looking into the case, exactly where the items
came from. In early 2001, severe flooding forced the Halil River over its usual bank, eroding
the surrounding landscape. As the river rushed through the land, it washed away sediment layers,
eventually revealing an ancient cemetery. Looters were quickly informed by locals who realised the
value of the seemingly ancient artefacts, and they moved quickly to gather as much
as they could and sell it to the highest bidder. Following the impressive investigation put forth
by the Iranian police, researchers began referring to the site as Jirfot, Iran's Lost Civilization.
The Initial Excavations & The Site
Once researchers and Iranian archaeologists formally surveyed the river valley,
they quickly realised the importance of the site.
They theorised that the culture that produced these marvellous artefacts dated back at least
5,000 years to the Bronze Age. Unfortunately, much of the site was damaged during the initial
looting, in which thieves and grave robbers ransacked thousands of burials in the necropolis.
The looters took important artefacts and anything of value they could get their hands on,
hoping to sell it quickly in the surrounding towns and cities. But, the Iranian archaeological
society was determined to study what was left and get to the bottom of this ancient civilization.
Various archaeologists from respected universities around the world flew to Iran to
join the archaeological team and try their best to protect as much of the exposed site as they could.
The renowned Iranian Archaeologist Yousef Madkidzadeh led the team with official
excavations beginning at the site near Jiroft in February of 2003 and lasting for several seasons..
Firstly Yousef and his team were able to identify the main necropolis,
which they called Mahtoutabad. This is where they suspect many of the initial
items listed on the antique market came from. However, just under a mile west of
the cemetery lay two enormous artificial munds that rose high above the plains beneath them.
The enormous mounds sat at a distance of around a mile from each other.
Archaeologists gave them the names Konar Sandal North and Konar Sandal South. Upon
further inspection, it was revealed that they were the remains of two major architectural complexes.
After archaeological digs on the mounds began, it was discovered that the Northern mound was
the remains of a religious site or cult building where people may have gathered
for ceremonial activities. Whereas the Southern Mound was a fortified citadel.
Following the excavation of the Southern Konar mound, it was revealed that an enormous brick wall
once surrounded the citadel. Radiocarbon dating has given a date of the construction to around
2500 BCE. It was later revealed that various smaller buildings lay under many feet of sediment
at the foot of the mounds. This led archaeologists and researchers to believe that the two mounds
were once part of an extensive urban settlement stretching for miles across the Plateau.
Upon releasing his preliminary conclusions derived from the limited data, Yousef Madjidzadeh had made
quite an impact on the archaeological community. Many were intrigued to learn about the discovery
of an ancient city with considerable connections to Mesopotamia through symbolism depicted in the
various artefacts. However, other archaeologists, such as the American Oscar White Muscarella,
strongly questioned the authenticity of Yousef's finds, sparking major debates
in academic circles. Many of the critics were concerned that because of the initial looting,
it was difficult to assess both the authenticity and the age of the artefacts accurately.
Despite academic pushback, Yousef and his team continued excavating much of the area throughout
several seasons. Over the next few years, the picture of the Jiroft civilization became
increasingly clear. Yousef went on to publish the team's findings, which claimed that the site
of Jiroft had been an urban settlement that was established as far back as the 5th millennium BC.
This would put it on par with major settlements in Mesopotamia, which are often referred to
as the cradle of civilization. Yousef went on to state that by the 3rd millennium BC,
the area was a fully functioning urbanised city with a major population.
Its centre lay in the valley of the Halil River, where impressive architecture was implemented
in various monumental buildings. On top of this, there were sizable craftsman areas that produced
goods of all kinds, domestic quarters, and extensive cemeteries that dominated the landscape
showing these people had a reverence for their recently departed. Many of the artefacts recovered
from Jiroft, including practical, decorative, and ceremonial items, were often inlaid with
precious stones such as obsidian, lapis lazuli, chlorite, and calcite. To Yousef, this indicated
a widespread trade network between the ancient Iranian site of Jiroft and those of the Persian
Gulf and on to Mesopotamia. He suggests that the Jiroft traders dealt in lapis lazuli, chlorite
vessels, and various other precious stones and commodities that were manufactured in Jiroft.
The Artefacts, Symbolism & Connection To Mesopotamia/Egypt
Archaeologists have expressed their opinion on the complexity and beauty of much of the
artwork found in and around the Jiroft site. The decorative iconography seen on hundreds
of the vessels recovered from the area is rich in symbolism and makes apparent the level of
craftsmanship that existed in Ancient Jiroft. Many of these decorative vessels have also
sparked an interest in researchers due to their apparent similarities with the iconography that
we often ascribe to Mesopotamian legends and traditions. Various scorpion images found at
Jiroft certainly bear a remarkable resemblance to the scorpion man depicted in the royal necropolis
of the Mesopotamian Cities of Ur. On top of this, the bull-men found on various vessels at Jiroft
echo the legends of the bull-man Enkidu, told in the Akkadian Epic of Gilgamesh.
One such theory to explain the similarities between these two seemingly independent
civilizations is that they may share a common cultural heritage dating back over 8000 years.
The most striking of all the images discovered on various vessels, artwork, and decorative
pieces are the distinctive scenes that include an inverted bull with an eagle soaring above
it and the depictions of an eagle's battle with a snake. These two scenes aim to invoke one of
the most memorable of all the Mesopoteiam myths, that of Etana, the semi-mythical shepherd king of
Kish who is mentioned, in the long Sumerian Kings list, as the first ruler after the great flood.
This complex and integral part of Mesopotamian mythology speaks of a man known as Etana,
who needs to venture into the heavens above to find a magical plant that'll allow his wife
to birth an heir. Running parallel to Etana's adventure, an eagle and serpent, who were once
great allies, have now become mortal enemies after the eagle eats the snake's offspring.
The snake gets the better of the eagle in the legend and leaves him for dead in a ditch,
however;, on request of the sun god Shamash, Etana saves the eagle. In return for Etana's kindness,
the eagle flies the King to the heavens to retrieve his plant, thus ensuring his succession.
Various scholars have also noticed another central story appearing on multiple art pieces
throughout the Jiroft collection, the universal legend of a major flood. This tale played a huge
part in the mythology of the Sumerians and the later Babylonians, and Massimo Vidale, an Italian
archaeologist, is certain that a representation of this tale appears on atleast one Jirfot
vase. Vidale claims that one vase has a kneeling character holding two zebu, whose heads produce
a colossal wave. A mountain rises from under these waves. Beside this, a depiction of a divine
character lifts a rainbow over the mountains that emerge from the water in the distance.
On top of the myths and symbolism clearly put forth in many of the vessels and decorative
pieces of Jiroft, another impressive discovery was made at the entrance of the Southern Konar Sandal
mound. At Least four baked clay tablets were found to contain two different writing systems,
showing a similarity between Jiroft and the Mesopotamian civilization again.
One script bore a great resemblance to the so-called Linear Elamite script, a form of writing
used in the kingdom of Elam, located on the border with Mesopotamia. However, the second form
of writing was geometric in form and had never been witnessed anywhere else previous to this.
Was Jiroft The Ancient City Of Aratta?
The wealth of artefacts discovered from Jiroft has given archaeologists and researchers an
indication of the ancient civilization that once flourished here in the Halil River valley.
Following a lengthy examination of the various art pieces and the overall layout of the city,
Yousef Madjidzadeh put forth an intriguing hypothesis. Yousef claims that based on his
own observations, opinions of fellow scholars, and the study of ancient Mespoteiam cuneiform texts,
there's enough evidence to suggest that the Jiroft civilization was known anciently as Aratta,
a land that was praised for its high level of civilization in many Sumerian poems.
An ancient text details a large conflict that was fought between the proud city of
Aratta and the Mesopotamian city of Uruk. In the text, Arrata is spoken of as a vibrant place,
with battlements of green lapis lazuli. Its walls towered over the city, made of bright
red bricks that were sourced from tinstone in the mountainous regions. Madjidzadeh points
to the location of Jirfot and its surrounding mountainous regions, as well as the abundance
of semi precious stones, as clear evidence that this is, in fact, the ancient city of Aratta.
However, other scholars have claimed that the Jirfot civilization is actually that of Marhasi.
This theory also has some textual support, coming from Akkadian texts. The kingdom of Akkad was
another powerhouse in the Mesopotamian region, and in one inscription, they speak of their glorious
victory over a city in the Iranian highlands. The King of Akkad, Rimush, defeated Abalgamash,
the King of Marashi in battle, and as he conquered Marashi, he too conquered Elam.
There is firm evidence to suggest that the kingdom of Akkad existed between 2400 and 2200 BC. Thus,
it aligns directly with the Jiroft civilization, indicating that Marhasi may, in fact,
be the culture that arose on the Halil River Plains of Iran. Scholars further suggest that
this is more credible as, unlike Marhasi, Aratta cannot be identified with a specific time period.