Recent studies conducted on seals unearthed at the ancient site of Jiroft (Iran) prove that the area was once the most important economic center of the Iranian plateau. The studies indicate that its residents had extensive trade ties with Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, the Persian Gulf region, and Transoxiana 5000 years ago, the director of the team of archeologists studying the site said.
     Yusef Majidzadeh added that additional studies have shown that the region, especially the ancient city of Kenar-Sandal in the Halil Rud region, was the commercial link between the abovementioned regions in ancient times. "Each seal bears various patterns as well as commercial trademarks. The seal for each country was different than the other. That is, it indicates which region the businessmen had commercial ties with. The collection includes various seals for each country they had ties with." The inhabitants of ancient Jiroft packaged goods inside earthenware vessels and/or jugs and then covered the lid with mud and affixed the special seals, according to Iranian archaeologists.
     Jiroft came into the spotlight nearly four years ago when reports of extensive illegal excavations and plundering of the priceless historical items of the area by local people surfaced. Since 2002, two excavation seasons have been carried out at the Jiroft site under the supervision of Majidzadeh, leading to the discovery of a ziggurat made of more than four million mud bricks dating back to about 2300 BCE.
 
Source: Mehr News (6 January 2006)