Sassanid structures uncovered in Takestan

The second season of archaeological expedition in Takestan’s Islamic Azad University site has uncovered architectural structures possibly Sassanid in origin.

Excavations in Takestan [Credit: Mehr News]

Mohammad Bahramzadeh, the head of the expedition reported to the local office of Iran's Cultural Heritage Research Center in Takestan, in Qazvin province, that other objects had been found which included pieces of high-quality pottery, glass thurible, vatic cauldrons with Sassanid Pahlavi inscriptions; “the first season of excavations in Tat-2, a site in grounds where Takestan’s Islamic Azad University was to be built, was carried out in 2014 which uncovered unique architectural work. Spaces uncovered include pool-like structures with gypsum plaster and a series of aqueducts connecting these small structures to a large and deeper pool in the center of the whole site; in the first season, the excavation team came across regular structures also with walls covered by gypsum plaster; delving deeper still revealed the possible function of the structure which had been a workshop called Charkhosht,” he explained.

“In the second season, the initial tranche of 4.5 in 4.5 meters was expanded to a wider space of 10 in 10 meters. These structures developed gradually according to our examinations,” Bahramzadeh told the office. “Further explorations in Tat-2 unearthed brick parapets providing frames of the pool-like structures. The entrance to the space is in southeastern part, 1.5 in 1 meter, leading directly to the main space of a rectangular structure, with a circular major pool with a depth of 195 centimeters in the center,” he added.

“Two other rectangular pools also were found in north and west of the site which were separated by brick parapets from the major pool; aqueduct system with width of 10 centimeters connects these system. In southwestern corner there is an oval small pool, 70 centimeters deep, connected via one of small aqueducts to rectangular western pool; northern pool shows the remains of soot and ashes are evident on the gypsum plaster covering, indicative of the heat,” Bahramzadeh said. “All surfaces have gypsum plaster covering, with subsequent plastering during repairs of the pools, in that we found 8 overlays of such plastering. The structure probably had been devoted to preparing grape juice and other grape products,” he concluded.

Source: Mehr News Agency [September 19, 2016]