Members of the archaeological research mission Zohreh conducting excavations in the South of Iran, I found dozens of steles created about 7000 years ago.
About the opening with reference to the research Institute of cultural heritage and tourism of Iran reports Archaeology News Network. Stone artifacts of regular conical shape was discovered during the excavations at tall Cegah-e Sofla. This is one of the largest monuments of the so-called Khuzestan, located South of modern city Behbehan.
Previously found ancient artifacts belong to the fifth Millennium BC. According to scientists, the age of the discovered stelae, too, is about 7000 years. In total there were 73 found.
According to Abbas Moghaddam, head of the excavations, the stele was lying in the pit in two rows, one on top of another. They were in the South-Western part of the complex of the ancient sanctuary, located to the West of the monumental stepped platform.
the Pit in which lay the artifacts was shallow. Scientists have noted its proper rectangular shape. According to them, it was a special sacrificial pit, and the stele it was in ancient times as offerings to the gods.
the Artifacts vary in degree of preservation. So, steles of the top row has reached our days almost intact. The stele in the lower row have defects, some of them broken off large pieces. This is not surprising, since they are made of a rather porous limestone.
Lower artifacts could simply break under the weight of the upper. By the way, archaeologists discovered the remains of a clay solution. Perhaps with it, the ancient people tried to install steles and strictly oriented to the cardinal.
overall, of the 73 cities intact, the scientists counted 46. Only two monuments are not conical. Their height is also different, it varies from 32,5 to 81 cm.
A stele decorated with carvings, mostly images of people and animals. Part of the monuments are decorated with simple motifs, such as shaded circles, and geometric shapes. A small number of stelae has carved images.
Preliminary investigations showed that the Stela, probably originally stood next to each other in a vertical position. This is indicated by their darker Foundation. Perhaps after a period of time they were neatly stacked in a horizontal position.
