Ancient clay bas-relief restored in Jiroft
The ancient clay bas-relief discovered during the excavations carried out in Jiroft, Kerman Province, in the 2000s, has undergone restoration. Fathollah Niazi, an expert at the Research Institute of Cultural Heritage & Tourism, who restored the bas-relief, mentioned that the artifact, unearthed by a team led by Youssef Majidzadeh, is one of the oldest from around 5,000 years ago.
He further stated that due to inadequate maintenance and various damaging factors over the years, a part of its upper section was lost. Necessary restoration work has been completed on this valuable artifact, including cleaning, layer removal, strengthening, and stabilization. The upper part of the bas-relief was intentionally not reconstructed to maintain the authenticity of the artifact, and the restoration was focused on the existing remains of the statue.
Niazi highlighted that the skirt of the bas-relief is adorned with black, red, and yellow pigments in geometric patterns. Additionally, more plans have been made for the preservation of this valuable artifact, which will soon be implemented in collaboration with the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts, and Tourism Department of Kerman Province.
Seyyed Sajjadi, an archaeologist who resumed excavations at this ancient site after a 16-year hiatus, previously expressed concerns about the deteriorating condition of the bas-relief. He emphasized that during the years of neglect, irreparable damage had been inflicted upon it. Sajjadi noted that the site had been neglected without any restoration efforts.
Youssef Majidzadeh, an archaeologist who conducted excavations in Jiroft and Konar Sandal Hill in Kerman Province in the 2000s, provided insights into this sculpture. He described it as a prominent clay relief depicting a man with a patterned skirt, holding his hands clasped in front of his chest. The discovery of this bas-relief suggests that the site was once a hub for governmental activities like administration, storage, and guarding. The upper part of the bas-relief has suffered damage due to erosion and weather conditions, leaving only two arms and a triangular-patterned skirt intact at the lower end.
According to Majidzadeh, the available documents, the richness of its artworks, and their quantity and quality indicate that the Halil Rud area, where Konar Sandal is located, was the largest industrial-commercial center in the ancient East in the early third millennium BCE, specializing in the production and export of goods made from various types of soapstone and marble.
The extensive destruction in the area has forced them to prioritize restoration efforts before proceeding with further excavations. The history of this ancient area, located near the city of Jiroft in southern Kerman Province, dates back 4,600 years and holds significant cultural heritage value. Despite its historical significance, Jiroft was relatively unknown in terms of archaeology until 2001, when it suddenly became one of the most important archeological sites in West Asia.
Most of the excavated sites at Konar Sandal used few stones and metals, while materials like brick and clay were employed more. If not addressed, these structures would be damaged by weather changes, wind, and rain.