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Archaeologists uncover centuries-old ironworks hub in northern Iran
Iranian archaeologists announced the discovery of extensive medieval iron-smelting operations near Masuleh, a mountain town in Gilan Province, after a new round of excavations began earlier this summer.
The first season of excavation at the Khan Baji Sara site, located three kilometers from the old town of Masuleh, revealed evidence of continuous iron production spanning from the late Seljuk period (12th–13th century) through the Qajar era (19th century), ILNA reported.
The work is part of Iran’s broader effort to secure UNESCO World Heritage status for Masuleh’s cultural landscape.
Lead archaeologist Abdolreza Mohajernejad said that the team, including five Chinese experts, uncovered remains of iron smelting furnaces and tools used over several centuries.
“We’ve identified all four traditional stages of smelting,” he said. The process included transporting raw iron ore from local mines, extracting sponge iron, and forging items ranging from household tools to swords and cannonballs.
The excavations also turned up fragments of colored glass bangles, hinting at small-scale glassmaking in the region. But the central story remains the scale and longevity of metalwork. “The technology used in Khan Baji Sara’s furnaces appears older and more advanced than what we’ve seen in Kohneh Masuleh,” Mohajernejad said, referring to earlier digs in the historic section of the town
According to the findings, the region served as a key corridor for iron goods flowing westward to Gilan, Ardebil, and Azarbaijan. “This was a hub,” said Mohajernejad. “They weren’t just making tools for themselves—they were feeding a broader trade network.”
The site’s geographical placement, along an ancient east-west trade route, backs up that theory. Its output appears to have played a vital role in the region’s commercial and military economy well into the 19th century. Excavators found later-period artifacts linked to the production of cannonballs during the Qajar dynasty.
Masuleh today still carries the legacy of that metallurgical heritage. Blacksmithing is one of its few surviving crafts, with several workshops still active. “The reason blacksmithing stuck around here is because it never really left,” Mohajernejad said.
The dig wrapped up earlier this month. Samples are now being tested in Tehran, and findings will be submitted as part of the documentation package for UNESCO consideration. Further excavations may follow based on lab results and funding.