Tehran – Career Sadek Zaré of the Fars Cultural Heritage Department gave the UNESCO World Heritage List the news of the beginning of the possibility of registering the ancient city of Dalabguard as the first city with a circular structure.
He told the IRNA that Darabgard’s ancient times date back to the Sassanid period and enjoyed a rich history and culture.
The monument should have been constructed simultaneously with Sassanid-era sites Bishapour, Firouzabad and Sarvestan on a global heritage list, but did not occur due to the lack of necessary research.
He noted that the completion of the registration document at UNESCO requires archaeological research and prepares conservation plans and management programs.
Zare’ said that 30 billion rials ($33,333) are currently set aside by the Ministry of Petroleum to complete the documents related to the Darabgard site.
He added that pursuing to attract more funds is a priority, and that if budgets are provided, the possibility of site registration can be completed within a year at the state level. However, proposing the site as a global candidate will be subject to ministry prioritization based on the country’s annual quota, he added.
Zare’ also suggested that you can add Darabgard to Fars’ Sassanid Landscape file.
Dalabguard is located 6 km south of Dalab city in Fars County. The city is located on a wide, flat plain, surrounded by three sided mountains and one plain.
Darabgard is known as the first circular city in Iran and in the world, with its unique architecture. The city had 3 metres in diameter, spectacular gates and long thick walls of the usual streets. In the heart of the city is a 400-meter-high salt mountain, which is said to have been the site of the city’s ruler’s palace.
Darabgard was inspiring other Sassanid cities. It became the model for the next city, such as Firouzabad and Bishapour.
KD