A new round of excavations in Zirkouh County in South Khorasan Province resulted in the discovery of 63 relics and remnants from prehistoric and Islamic eras.
The most significant discoveries include mills, castles, graveyards, furnaces, dried water reservoirs, caves, petroglyphs and a mine, said the head of archeology team, Mostansar Gholinejad, ILNA reported.
A majority of the relics date back to middle and late Islamic eras and were mostly found in low hills and plains of the region.
Gholinejad said the remnants of the ancient relics have been badly damaged. Lack of attention and awareness of the locals, erosion due to weather conditions, desert greening, natural disasters, drought and water crisis have all played a part in the dismal state of the discovered sites and artifacts.
Further excavations are vital in Zirkouh to better understand the history of the region and recognize inter- and intraregional relations, particularly with Sistan and Baluchestan and North Khorasan provinces.
