Major conservation project underway at Tomb of Xerxes
Conservation and restoration operations at the Tomb of Xerxes in the Naqsh-e Rostam historical and cultural complex, Fars Province, are currently underway, marking the country’s largest rock monument conservation workshop. The project aims to reinforce structural stability, address stone deterioration, and control natural erosion processes.
Led by Mostafa Rakhshandeh-Khu and carried out with the collaboration of a team of Iranian specialists in stone conservation, archaeology, geology, architecture, and related fields, the project is being implemented under highly sensitive and specialized conditions.
Speaking to ISNA, the head of the Naqsh-e Rostam conservation and restoration team and director of the site said that carrying out operations at a height of more than 60 meters above ground level has required the use of specialized equipment, precise planning, and advanced technical skills. These factors, he noted, have made the workshop one of the most complex rock monument restoration projects in the country.
Rakhshandeh-Khu added that as part of the initiative, the Tomb of Xerxes was studied and assessed from historical, architectural, technical, and aesthetic perspectives. Areas of the monument that had suffered the most severe damage were subjected to cleaning, stabilization, and principled restoration measures.
He emphasized that these actions are in line with Iran’s broader policies for safeguarding historical monuments and ensuring the sustainable protection of cultural heritage. He noted that the continuation of such efforts will play a vital role in preserving the authenticity and longevity of Achaemenid heritage.
The images showing views of the tomb’s condition before and after the restoration of various sections reflect the efforts of Iranian experts in one of the most sensitive and challenging stone conservation projects in the country.
Naqsh-e Rostam is home to four rock-cut tombs belonging to four Achaemenid kings: Darius the Great, Xerxes, Artaxerxes I, and Darius II.