Archaeologists find 8,000-year-old artifacts Iranian Kurdistan

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — A dig by 32 archaeological experts concluded this week near Kani Sib Dam in West Azerbaijan province, Iran, and led to the discovery of sites believed to be 8,000 years old. 

Soleiman Bashiri, the head of Piranshahr Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Department, told state-run IRNA news that many different types of artifacts and huge structures were found over the past six weeks. 

The items, unearthed by nine teams, were taken to Urmia Museum.

Some are believed to date back 8,000 years. They hail from different periods including the Islamic, Parthian, Sassanid areas, and Iron Age. The experts speculate that some of the undisclosed items found prove climactic conditions were suitable for humans some 8 millennia ago.  


The dam is located near Piranshahr in West Azerbaijan — a predominately Kurdish province — in the northwest of Iran.

The dig began on November 16 and ended on January 1.

A second round of archaeological activity on a wider scale is planned in the near future.