Iranian cultural officials plan to open an archaelogical site for public viewing in the west of the country that dates to pre-Parthian eras. “Excavations are focused on opening the city to public viewing. Further excavations and studies are estimated to require a USD 200,000 budget,” said the head of the archeological team, Ali Khaksar.
Archaeologists have excavated 25 of the underground city's rooms, halls and corridors in a 4-meter-deep site in Samen, located in the Malayer administrative district in Hamadan province. The hand-dug stone refuge, which was first identified two years ago, appears to have been a place for performing Mithraic rituals.
Archeologists have also found Parthian squat burials and some 54 human skeletons. Studies also show that the city was used as a secret haven during the Seljuk, Ilkhanid, Timurid and Safavid eras. The underground city has several entries and a number of openings have been created atop it to let in light and air. A large part of the area has not been excavated due to the moisture level from domestic waste water.
Sun, 17 May 2009, PressTV
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