Ancient Site In Iran Faces Threat From Rainfall, Subsidence

The ancient archeological site of Naqsh-e Rostam, located in Iran's Fars Province, risks collapse after severe damage inflicted due to ground subsidence recent heavy rainfall.

The site, close to the famed ruins of Persepolis, is home to the tombs of Achaemenid kings such as Darius the Great and Xerxes and showcases a vast array of rock reliefs from various Iranian dynasties.

Extensive subsidence has occurred with fissures reaching depths of 50 to 70 centimeters and forming within 10 to 15 meters of these invaluable historical monuments. Despite efforts to fill the cracks annually with sand and gravel, they persistently reappear, posing a continuous threat to the stability of the rock face and the ancient artworks it houses.

Iran claims teams specializing in monitoring, protection, restoration, and archeology have been urgently deployed to manage and mitigate the impact of the environmental damage. "We are committed to preserving this cornerstone of Iranian cultural heritage," Alireza Askari, an official of the complex said on Friday.

The preservation of the sites has been a contentious issue in Iran, particularly since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, which saw a shift in the attitude towards relics predating the Islamic era.

Just last month, the Deputy Minister of Iran's Cultural Heritage expressed concern about a lack of funds for maintaining critical sites.

“Last year, the financial resources allocated to the preservation and restoration of historical sites were 900,000 Tomans ($200) and monuments 13 million Tomans ($3,000),” Ali Darabi said. “The fact that all this historical greatness and cultural heritage should be preserved and restored with this minimal budget is beyond me.”

With 27 sites, Iran ranks among the top 10 countries with the most cultural heritage sites in UNESCO's World Heritage List but amid a massive economic crisis, the regime has sidelined the country's cultural past in favor of prioritizing its military budget.