Tehran – Iran’s latest addition to the UNESCO World Heritage List highlights the success of the fusion of archaeology and cultural diplomacy.
At a press conference held at the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts on Monday, the recent inscriptions on a prehistoric site in the Holamabad Valley in western Iran was discussed by the Governor General of Lorestan and experts and officials in related fields.
Iran’s UNESCO ambassador Ahmad Pakacci praised the inscription as a product of expert archaeological research combined with effective cultural diplomacy.
Speaking via live video link, he said: “The 60,000-year cultural continuity of Khorramabad Valley strengthens Iran’s international status in heritage preservation. The site exemplifies the coexistence of early human species and provides deep insight into the shared past of humanity.”
Governor Seyed Saeed Shahrokhi congratulated the people of Iran, especially the residents of Khorramabad for this national honor. He highlights the rich cultural and natural locations of the state, noting that Lorestan hosts over 5,000 historic and natural locations, of which 2,600 are registered nationwide, and 14 important sites are located within the Khorramabad Valley.
Shaloki highlighted the potential for inscriptions to enhance the academic, economic and social development of Lorestan. Supporting the growth of local tourism, Sharoki detailed an ongoing infrastructure project, which was founded in 1928 and included the development of historically important local hotels during the World War, as well as the reconstruction of the historically important Koramabad International Airport in 1928.
“The plan to relocate a military base adjacent to Farakhor Afrakh Castle aims to transform the area into a major cultural tourism destination,” the governor added.
Farhad Azitzi, who presides over the offices of World Heritage ministries, highlighted the complex and technically challenging nature of the nomination process. “The Khorramabad Valley registration (prehistoric site) is an exceptional geopolitical achievement that highlights Iran’s ability to influence global heritage discourse,” he said.
Ajitsi also pointed out the importance of local cooperation in strengthening heritage management, specifically citing nearby Farakh ol Afrakh Castle as an important cultural landmark that contributes to the local history narrative.
Ata Hassanpur, the director of the tourism department of Lorestan, pointed out on his side that the Chloramabad Valley represents the Iranian first ancient stone document carved by UNESCO. Spanning 400 hectares with a 7,000 hectares of buffer zone, the site includes five caves and rock shelters: Kaldar, Kumri, Giroran, Yafe and Kawanji. These locations provide rare evidence of human inhabitants dating back over 63,000 years, including artifacts such as the reindeer dog teeth necklace, one of the earliest known personal ornaments, 40,000 years old.
Hassanpour explained that the site had been on UNESCO’s interim list since 2007. Following submissions in late 2023, field missions in 2024, and positive reviews by ICOMOS in June 2025, the inscription was confirmed on July 10, 2025.
Alileza Izadi, director of heritage registration and preservation at the province, described the nomination of a World Heritage Site as a scientific yet politically sensitive process. “Establishing Iran’s legitimate claims was challenging…” he said. Izadi also outlined future registration priorities, including Iranian mosques, Alamat Fortress, Asbad (vertical windmills), and Golgan’s Great Wall.
With a history of over 60,000 years, Khorramabad Valley represents one of the earliest known human habitats on the Iranian plateau. Valley caves and rock shelters provide invaluable insight into early Homo sapiens life and migration patterns in Asia, Europe and Africa. The inscription not only celebrates the site’s extraordinary archaeological values, but also opens up new paths for sustainable tourism and cultural exchange.
The press conference concluded with a unified call to protect Iran’s historic assets along with the development of tourism infrastructure. The inscription on the prehistoric site of Khorramabad Valley introduces Iran’s ancient heritage on the world stage and shows important steps in strengthening the role of Lorestan as a cultural and tourism hub.
The Khorramabad Valley is located in Zagros Mountains and serves as an important archaeological site for understanding early human evolution and migration. Included on the UNESCO World Heritage List brings international recognition of Iran’s contribution to global heritage preservation and encourages interdisciplinary cooperation among archaeologists, historians and cultural diplomats.
morning