Artistry, significance of Golpayegan’s petroglyphs
Human factors are among the most significant dangers and challenges facing the valuable historical petroglyphs of Golpayegan, a city in Isfahan Province, known for its rich cultural heritage and archaeological significance, said an archeologist.
Mohsen Jamali added that any kind of line or mark left by human on stones and rocks is referred to as a petroglyph.
He added that the development of mines within the vicinity of the petroglyph sites is a prominent aspect of these threats. Currently, at the Teymareh petroglyph site in Golpayegan, mining activities have become a disaster for these valuable engravings, IRNA wrote.
The archaeologist and author of the books “Petroglyphs of Golpayegan” and “The Passage of History” emphasized that unregulated tourism is another harmful factor affecting these historical engravings. He noted that the entry of some unaware tourists into the pristine areas of the petroglyphs has led to vandalism and digging in their surroundings.
He added that the level of protection for these historical artifacts must be increased, and tourism should be conducted by trained individuals and in an organized manner in the petroglyph region of Golpayegan. He stated that the existence of 36,000 examples of engraved pictorial and linear designs on the Golpayegan petroglyphs is a manifestation of Iran’s thousands of years of culture and civilization in the world.
He further noted that the petroglyphs reflect the history and culture of our ancestors, and because most of them were created by ordinary people without the orders of rulers and sovereigns, they are considered some of the purest and most authentic documents of human life in various parts of the world.
He added that by studying the petroglyphs carefully, signs of various animal species that once lived in Iran can be identified. Jamali pointed out that the petroglyphs of Golpayegan feature various animal species such as tigers, leopards, cheetahs, lions, deer, wild goats, and mountain sheep. He mentioned that many of these designs can be studied based on findings from ancient ethnological studies (a branch of social sciences that examines very distant pasts using material evidence), and it is possible to unveil the mysteries of some of their narrative scenes.
He clarified that discussing the history of petroglyphs may be challenging, and currently, the conditions for accurately dating these engravings of inorganic origin do not exist in Iran. However, relatively, the age of some specific artworks can be estimated, particularly as recent research indicates that the history of some petroglyphs reaches back to the beginning of the Copper Age (the period between the Neolithic and the Bronze Age, starting around 6,000 years ago and ending about 5,000 years before Christ) and extending to Islamic and contemporary periods.
Petroglyphs are divided into two categories: relief engravings and incised carvings, with rock art in Iran predominantly being of the incised type. Across Iran, many petroglyphs have been identified, each reflecting the dominant culture of that specific region.
In Golpayegan, there are numerous petroglyphs, and through 17 years of continuous research on various areas of this district, 32 sites with petroglyphs and about 36,000 rock surfaces have been identified, making it one of the largest and most complete collections of petroglyphs and rock engravings in the country. Golpayegan itself is a city steeped in history, situated 170 kilometers west of Isfahan. It is surrounded by beautiful landscapes and is known for its traditional architecture, historical sites, and vibrant local culture. The abundance of petroglyphs in the area not only highlights its archaeological significance but also serves as a testament to the rich cultural tapestry of Iran.
Of approximately 50,000 petroglyphs registered in Iran, more than 36,000 examples have been identified in Golpayegan, underscoring its importance as a center for studying ancient human expression and interaction with nature.