ICOMOS evaluator visits ancient ironworking sites in Masouleh
International expert visits Kohneh Masouleh and Khanbaji Sara to investigate archaeological evidence of iron extraction and ancient metalworking techniques.
On the second day of his visit to Masouleh, Gilan Province, Shaiful bin Shahidan, an evaluator for the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), visited archaeological sites associated with the extraction of raw iron ore and ancient metalworking in Kohneh Masouleh and Khanbaji Sara.
The visit focused on examining heat-related structures uncovered during archaeological excavations and assessing evidence of historical iron production and processing technologies in the region.
The second day’s fieldwork centred on key metalworking sites across the historic cultural landscape. At the excavation sites, bin Shahidan examined evidence of how the thermal structures functioned, including metalworking furnaces and installations associated with the smelting and processing of raw iron ore. His assessment drew on field observations and archaeological stratigraphy.
This stage of the evaluation is particularly significant for the proposed Masouleh Cultural Landscape and Its Ancient Blacksmithing Sites World Heritage nomination. Evidence of a continuous production chain, from the extraction of raw materials to iron processing and blacksmithing, could help demonstrate the longstanding relationship between people, nature, industry and architecture in the cultural landscape. Findings from the field assessment will also contribute to evaluating the nomination against UNESCO World Heritage criteria.
During the visits, the ICOMOS evaluator held discussions with archaeologists and members of the nomination team about the thermal mechanisms of the discovered structures, metal extraction techniques, and the links between these production systems and the local economy and livelihoods of Masouleh’s communities.
Bin Shahidan began the field evaluation of the proposed World Heritage site on Monday, following his arrival in the historic town of Masouleh. He is visiting Iran as part of an ICOMOS expert mission to assess the historical and cultural significance of the nominated sites and examine the evidence available on the ground.
Field evaluation is a key stage in the technical review of sites nominated for inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Once completed, the evaluator’s report will be submitted to ICOMOS for consideration in the subsequent stages of the assessment process.
During a meeting with the director-general of Gilan Province’s Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Organization and the governor of Fuman, bin Shahidan thanked provincial officials for their hospitality and said it was his first visit to Iran.
Referring to his home city and its Iranian community, he said: “I come from Kuala Lumpur, a city where many Iranians live and where the people are very kind.”
He added that he would be pleased to visit the sites, prepare the evaluation report and send it to Paris, expressing hope that the cultural landscape would ultimately be inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.