Scholars believe that the 3200 year-old historical Ma’mourin Hill which was found accidentally during the construction project of Imam International Airport, can be turned into the greatest historical, scientific, and tourist attraction of Iran.
     In 1989, during construction works of Imam Airport, workers came accidentally to antique remains and structures, which further studies by an archeological team headed by Jafar Mehrkian revealed can date back to the Iron Age or even before. Further work in the area led to the discovery of more than 50 structures in the airport and its vicinities. The structures included a fortress, a village fortress, mills, millstones, ducts, historical hills, cemeteries, religious tombs, and water structures, but today only remains of a fortress dating to the Islamic era, some Imam Zadehs (religious tombs) and the historical Ma’mourin Hill remain.
     "The discovery of the hill could provide new information on people of the Iron Age," said Jafar Mehr Kian, head of the archeology team of Imam Airport. One of the important discoveries have been the architectural features of the structures, which include the use of rectangular mud bricks, raised platforms all around the rooms, and installation of large clay casks on the platforms.
     According to Mehrkian, grey crocks have also been found with raised depictions and seal impressions indicating the use of plow to prepare the earth for agricultural works at that time. The finds also rejects the belief so far that people were migrators during the Iron Age.
     The discoveries in the site have helped archeologists gain more information on life in the Iron Age. For example, people used plaster as whitening cover for buildings and did gardening and produced wine in two-storey pools.

Source: Iranian Cultural Heritage News Agency (24 January 2005)