Latest archeological excavations in Jiroft (Iran) resulted in the discovery of a bronze statue depicting the head of goat which dates back to the third millennium BCE. This statue was found in the lower layers of Jiroft cemetery, revealing that the history of the Halil Rud region dates back to the fourth millennium BCE, a time that goes well beyond the age of civilization in Mesopotamia.
     "One of the reasons the archeologists and historians give for Mesopotamia to be the cradle of civilization is that the most ancient historical evidence and relics which have been discovered in Jiroft so far date back to the third millennium BCE or nearer, and therefore they argue that this region could not have been the place where civilization began. However, some cultural evidence and ancient artifacts belonging to the fourth millennium BCE were traced while digging a trench beneath the Matot Abad cemetery which gave proof to the fact that the history of this region goes back to the sixth millennium BCE. That raises new questions about the history of this region and whether or not the civilization that lived here is older than that of Mesopotamia," said Yousof Majidzadeh, head of excavation team in Jiroft.
     "Two different kinds of clays were discovered in Jiroft cemetery, some belong to third millennium BCE while the others go back to the fourth millennium BCE. It was supposed that this area was a cemetery in both periods, but the trenches dug under the cemetery indicate that the region was a residential area during the sixth millennium BCE. After this area was covered by different sediments and layers little by little over the period of 1000 years, the cemetery was established on the remains of the previous settlement area," added Majidzadeh.
     According to Majidzadeh, geophysical operations by French experts in the region indicate the existence at least 10 historical and archaeological periods in the region belonging to different civilizations who lived in this area during different periods of time in history. According to the French experts who studied this area, the evidence remained from these civilizations may be traced up to 11 meters under the ground.
     
Source: Persian Journal (26 January 2006)