The third phase of the Sialk archaeological reassessment project, which began in 2022, is now in its fourth season, yielding significant discoveries. This phase aims to answer fundamental archaeological questions and prepare the site for public display, with recent findings including a metalworking workshop, a massive mud-brick platform, and residential remains that add new layers to the ancient history of this location.
According to a report by Jadeh Makhsous news agency, the long-term Sialk reassessment research program was initiated in 2001. The first phase was conducted from 2001 to 2005, followed by the second phase between 2008 and 2009. The current third phase, which started in 2022, is now advancing with its fourth season of excavations.
The primary objective of this stage is to address specialized and foundational archaeological inquiries concerning Iran’s central plateau, spanning from the Neolithic period to the beginning of the Achaemenid era. Concurrently, the project focuses on creating the necessary infrastructure to showcase the unearthed artifacts to both domestic and international tourists.
In the fourth season, research has centered on trenches O.29 and P.29, continuing last year’s excavations to gain a deeper understanding of the site’s most recent layers. One of the most important achievements has been the discovery of a workshop space from the Sialk III period (approximately 5,500 to 5,300 years ago). This area, measuring about 2.5 by 3 meters, features a horseshoe-shaped furnace and heat-affected sections, indicating a workshop related to metallurgy, specifically copper.
According to a report by Jadeh Makhsous, this season also revealed a large mud-brick platform (mastaba) from the Sialk VI period (approximately 2,800 to 2,600 years ago). Evidence suggests this structure, along with a massive mud-brick building and a ceramic water channel discovered in a previous season, was part of a comprehensive and organized urban development plan during the Median period.
Other findings from this season include a probable residential space with mud-brick walls located beneath the platform. So far, two rooms have been identified, and excavations are ongoing.
Upon the conclusion of the fourth season, it is expected that a more precise and comprehensive understanding of the life of Sialk’s inhabitants during the final stages of settlement at this valuable ancient Iranian site will be achieved. This knowledge represents a crucial step in reinterpreting the history of the ancient civilization of the central plateau.
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