Tehran’s head of National Heritage Sites has spoken out against the Revolutionary Guards construction company Khatam al-Anbia for initiating construction projects in Firouzkouh at the ancient sites of Siadeh, which date back to the Parthian era.
Mohammadreza Nemati told ISNA that a subsidiary of Khatam al-Anbia began the Semnan Fiber Optics project in the area last year without any investigation or coordination with the National Heritage office. The construction activities were immediately brought to a halt after national heritage’s archeology experts inspected the site.
Nemati went on to add, however, that the project managers took advantage of the June holidays and resumed their activities. According to the report, the construction work has damaged ancient graves and numerous clay artifacts, which were broken by the diggers’ activity.
Nemati added that some digging was done to remove some of the artifacts without the authorization of the National Heritage office.
The Siadeh site in Firouzkouh was registered on the list of the country’s National Heritage Sites in 2001.