Sistan's Burnt City: An Ancient Heritage with Astonishing Secrets

The Burnt City of Sistan, a 5,000-year-old heritage site, reflects the glory of Iranian civilization and the ingenuity of the region's people in urban planning, medicine, art and trade.

Aryan heritage: Sistan and Baluchistan has long been one of the important regions for the formation and continuation of human settlements, and archaeological evidences bring back the history of human presence in this region to very ancient periods.

The burnt city of Sistan, which is more than 5 thousand years old, thousands of years before the formation of many countries claiming power in the world today, especially America with a history of about 400 years, has been the cradle of civilization, elite and cultural interaction; A city whose achievements in medicine, art, trade and the coexistence of ethnic groups show an amazing image of the glory of ancient Iranian civilization.

Referring to the cultural evidence of Ladiz in Taftan region, the manager of Sistan's burnt city base said: stone tools obtained from this area are among the important evidences of human life in prehistoric times and show that this land has been the place of presence and activity of human societies since ancient times.

Saying that the formation of large human settlements in the past had a direct relationship with water resources and fertile lands, Hossein Sarhadi said: In parts of the Iranian plateau, including Khuzestan, Sistan, Kerman and Dasht Gorgan, the existence of permanent rivers and suitable water resources has provided the basis for the formation and expansion of human societies.

Sistan; The background of the formation of ancient civilizations

The director of Sistan's burnt city base continued: Sistan is of special importance in that in the third millennium BC, important urban settlements and civilization centers were formed there. The burnt city is one of the most significant of these sites, and besides it, other sites and areas of civilization such as Bampur, Halilroud and Jazmorian are also important in understanding the civilizational background of Southeast Iran.

Ovi stated: Based on archaeological studies and dating, the history of the burnt city goes back to about 3500 years BC; Therefore, this area is more than five thousand years old and was registered in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2014.

geographic location; The cause of business boom in the burnt city

Referring to the geographical location of Sistan, a faculty member of the Department of Archeology of Zabul University said: This region was located among important civilization areas such as Mesopotamia, Ilam, Jiroft, Central Asia, the Indus region and the Indian subcontinent, and this location provided the basis for cultural and commercial communication between different communities.

Ovi added: The existence of the Hirmand River, fertile plains and the possibility of producing agricultural products were important factors of Sistan's economic prosperity in historical periods. The agricultural capacity of this region was so important that Sistan was known as one of the important grain supply centers.

Sharadi pointed out: Sistan's location on the communication routes between East and West has made this area one of the hubs of traffic for businessmen and human groups. In such conditions, goods, ideas, skills and cultural experiences were exchanged between different communities, and these connections helped the growth and prosperity of the burned city.

The manager of Shahr Sokhte continued: The date of the formation of this city is estimated from 3,200 BC and according to new research to 3,500 BC. The burnt city had become a multinational society due to the large volume of immigration, and the evidence of the presence of businessmen from different backgrounds in this area is quite evident. The point to consider in the analysis of the structure of this multinational society is the existence of exemplary social and structural order alongside ethnic diversity; An issue that doubles the importance of the burnt city in the study of cultural and social relations of ancient societies.

Referring to the trade of lapis lazuli stone in the third millennium BC, he said: lapis lazuli was one of the valuable materials used in the manufacture of ornaments and decorative objects obtained from sources in present-day Afghanistan. The arrival of raw materials and their transformation into artistic and practical products could provide the basis for the development of specialized activities and commercial exchanges.

burnt city; A large city with an advanced social structure

Referring to the size of this ancient site, the director of Sistan's Burnt City Base said: In its heyday, Burnt City was a vast city with diverse social and economic structures. Estimates about its population in some periods indicate about five to six thousand people, and the size of the area also reveals its importance among ancient urban centers.

He continued: Archaeological evidence shows that the burned city had different parts, including residential areas, spaces related to production and industrial activities, and a cemetery. Also, the existence of evidence of specialized activities and production of various objects indicates the economic and social organization of this city.

Sarhady emphasized: The examination of such an area shows that the burnt city was not just a place of residence of a group of people, but a society with a division of activities, specialized skills, economic relations and extensive cultural capacities.

burnt city; An example of coexistence and cultural interaction

The faculty member of the Department of Archeology of Zabul University considered one of the important features of the burnt city to be the possibility of investigating the relationships between human groups with different cultural backgrounds and said: the geographical location of this city exposed it to various civilizations and archaeological evidence can help to understand the dimensions of these interactions.

He added: Examining the burial methods, the structure of the cemetery, and the objects obtained from the excavations, provides researchers with valuable information about the social life and beliefs of the people of the burnt city. The diversity of some cultural evidences and the lack of clear boundaries in some parts of the cemetery are issues that can be considered in the study of the social relations of this society.

Referring to the archaeological findings of this site, Sarhadi said: So far, in the collection of known findings of the burnt city, no significant evidence of war tools has been found, based on which this site can be identified as a military center. This issue, along with other evidence, provides the basis for further investigation about the nature of social relations and the way of life of the people of this city.

From ancient animation to modern art

Pointing to the significant findings of this area, the manager of Burnt City said: One of the most interesting things in Burnt City is the presence of an image on a clay vessel in which the movement of a goat is depicted in several stages. By rotating the container, the sequence of images can create a sense of movement; A feature that is referred to as an example of primary animation in general studies.

He added: This work shows the artistic capacities and visual creativity of the artisans of that period, and shows the importance of a more detailed examination of the works of art in understanding the intellectual and skill abilities of ancient societies.

Referring to the evidence related to decorative arts, Sarhadi said: In the burnt city, examples of wooden works and objects made with technical and artistic skills have been discovered. Some of these finds, including decorated wooden combs, are important in investigating the history of fine arts and the methods of making decorative objects.

Artificial skull and eye surgery; A sign of knowledge therapy in the burnt city

Referring to the medical evidence in this area, a faculty member of the Zabul University Archeology Department said: One of the important findings of the burnt city is the evidence of skull surgery on the remains of a teenage girl, which, according to the researchers, was performed with the aim of treating a complication related to the accumulation of fluid in the skull.

He added: The examination of the skeletal remains of this person has shown that after the surgery, there were signs of bone regrowth at the surgical site. An issue that indicates the person's survival for some time after performing this treatment.

Sarhady continued: This finding is important from the aspect of medical history, because it shows that the people of that period, despite the limitations of medical knowledge and tools compared to today, were observing diseases and trying to treat them.

He also pointed to the discovery of an artificial eye in Burnt City and said: This work is one of the other well-known finds in the area, which shows the ability of artisans to make functional and decorative objects. Examining the structural features and materials used in such works can provide more information about technical skills, social needs and the status of people in the society of that time.

Accuracy in measurement and technical skills

Referring to some tools and artifacts discovered in the burnt city, Sarhady said: The existence of accurate measuring tools and objects made with high skill are important issues in knowing the technical knowledge and computing abilities of the residents of this city.

He added: Making delicate works of art, producing functional objects and performing procedures such as surgery required experience, observation and transfer of skills. Putting these evidences together shows that the Burnt City society had significant capacities in various fields, from production and art to knowledge of the human body and technical activities.

Shahr Sokhte intellectual games; A reflection of people's social life

Referring to the works related to intellectual games, the manager of Shahr Sokhte said: The findings related to game boards and pieces are among the other significant aspects of social life in this area. These works can help to understand the pastimes, social relations and the way of spending free time in the ancient society.

He added: The study of ancient games is not only limited to the knowledge of entertainment, but it can also provide researchers with information about social interaction patterns, intellectual skills, and communication between different areas.

Referring to the continuation of archeological studies in the region, Sarhadi noted: In the surveys and excavations of recent years, findings related to different types of games have also been identified, the study and analysis of which can help to better understand this part of the life of the people of the burnt city.

Most of the secrets of the burnt city are still unknown

In another part of this conversation, a member of the academic staff of the Department of Archeology of Zabul University, emphasizing the necessity of continuing the excavations, said: the known findings of the burnt city have revealed only a part of the scientific and cultural capacities of this area, and still a large part of the information related to its urban structures, social life, technologies and cultural relations requires further research.

He added: Each stage of archaeological excavations can provide researchers with new information about people's way of life, technical skills, economic relations and cultural connections. Therefore, the continuation of scientific research and the publication of their documented results is very important.