An Iron-Age necropolis was unearthed at Jamshidabad historic site in Roudbar, Gilan province, an archeologist with provincial Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Department said.
Archeologists conducting the first season of excavations at the ancient site came across seven Iron-Age graves, Yousef Fallahian was quoted by the Persian daily Iran as saying.
Relics unearthed from the graves indicate that the history of the cemetery stretches back 3200 years, the expert elaborated.
He added that brass ornamental objects, arrows and potteries retrieved from the site further substantiate the findings.
Extended over five hectares, the Iron-Age site is located in a village bearing the same name near Rostamabad town on the western bank of Sefidroud River.
The site is located 48 km off Rasht-Qazvin Road, in northern Gilan province.
Fallahian had earlier stated that the site is one of the most important historical sites in Gilan province.
He, who heads the team, has authored his master’s thesis in 2000 about archeological discoveries at the site.

Seyyed Mohammad Reza, son of Seyyed Mohammad Baqer Mousavi Golpayegani, was born in Googad village, near Golpayegan, Isfahan province in 1895.
At an early age, he left his hometown and went to Arak, in Markazi province, with the purpose of studying Islamic sciences. One of his great teachers was Ayatollah Haj Sheikh Abdul Karim Haeri Yazdi.
After the foundation of Qom Theology School by Ayatollah Haeri, Golpayegani traveled to Qom where he taught theosophy and Islamic principals. His explanation on Orvat-ul-Vosqa, is one of the most famous explanations still used by scholars.
At the time of June 1963 (15th Khordad) uprising, he solemnly supported and sided with Imam Khomeini (RA). Following the death of Imam Khomeini (RA) and Ayatollah Khoei, he was considered as a great source of imitation all around the world. He instructed Islamic sciences for more than 75 years and trained many conspicuous scholars.
Some of his outstanding students were Morteza Haeri Yazdi, Abdul Rahim Rabbani Shirazi, Morteza Motahhari, Mohammad Ali Qazi Tabatabaei, Seyyed Asadollah Madani, Mohammad Mofatteh, Seyyed Mohammad Beheshti, Ali Meshkini, Nasser Makarem Shirazi, Jafar Sobhani, Lotfollah Safi Golpayegani, and Ahmad Jannati.
Several books have remained from him some of which are Al-Hajj, Al-Qaza and Al-Taharat. Ayatollah Golpayegani established the first great Qur’anic institution in Qom, the first great index of theosophical subjects and narration using new inventions and scientific methods. He also helped found hundreds of schools, mosques, religious institutions inside and outside the country.
The scholar passed away in 1993. His body was buried in the Holy Shrine of Hazrat-e Masoumeh (SA) in Qom.

A view of Alamout Fortress in Qazvin.

Excavation in Alamout Fortress of Qazvin led to the discovery of the main gate to the command headquarters of Hassan Sabah Fortress, director of Alamout Research Base said.
As reported by the Persian daily Iran, Hamideh Choubak stated that the gate was found in the main courtyard of the castle during the sixth season of excavations.
She noted that archeologists working at the site came across Hassan Sabah command headquarters, extended over 110 square meters, as well as the fortress’s northern gate.
The brick gate is decorated with inscriptions in Kufi script comparable to those of Jame’ mosques of Qazvin and Isfahan, the official explained.
Choubak mentioned the main steps of the fortress with a length of 50 meters as another discovery of the sixth season.
The steps have been built on the cliff slope, she said.
Alamout Fortress in north Qazvin is located atop cliffs in the southern slopes of Alborz mountain range. It used to be a military and educational base for the Ismailites, the most influential Muslim political and religious group of its time. Hassan Sabah, leader of the sect, resided in the fortress for 35 years.

Kamancheh is the only bowed string instrument in classical Persian music.

Kamancheh players from around the country are taking part at a national festival currently underway in Lorestan province, according to ISNA.
The artistic event which opened on Jan. 11 in Khorramabad, the capital city, will run for four days.
The event, organized by the Lorestan Department of Culture and Islamic Guidance, features 70 Kamancheh players from different parts of the country.
Director of the festival, Reza Niazi, said skilled players perform pieces in Azari, Qashqaei, Khorasani, Gilani, Mazandarani and Lorestani music.
“Also, the artists make use of the Robab, a string instrument played in southern province of Khuzestan, which has a role in characterizing classical Iranian music.“
The Kamancheh is a traditional Iranian string instrument similar to a violin, played with a variable-tension bow. It consists of a round body made from gourd or wood. Traditionally, Kamanchehs have three silk strings, however, modern ones have four metal ones. It is the only bowed string instrument in classical Persian music.
The instrument is traditionally played while sitting down and is held like a cello.

An effigy at the Anthropology Museum of Bushehr

Headquarters for Commemoration of Isfahan has organized a story writing contest in the Year of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and on the occasion of designation of the city as the cultural capital of the Muslim World in 2006 by the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), CHN reported.
The headquarters announced that the writing contest is intended to encourage authors to create stories with high standards and introduce their works about the Holy Prophet targeted at children and young adults at the international level.
The stories will have to be themed around the life, character and miracles of the Prophet of Islam.
Each author can have as many as three submissions. Both published and unpublished works shall be admitted. The submissions must be presented in typed format and printed on A4 papers.
The stories must be authored for the 6-15 age group and can be in Persian, English and Arabic languages.
There are no age and geographical restrictions for participants. The author’s name and the story’s title, as well as full address and contact number need to be mentioned at the beginning of each story.
The submissions will have to arrive not later than Feb. 4, 2007. Works should be submitted to secretariat of the competition at the Association for Children and Young Adults Writers, No. 46, Parvaneh Deadened, between Mofatteh and Forsat streets, Somyyeh Ave., Tehran.
The top story will be awarded a plaque of honor, an emblem and a cash prize of $3,000. Second and third winners will receive plaques of honor, emblems and $1,000 prizes each.
The headquarters will also commend the top 10 submissions.

Restoration operations at Pai-Borj historic complex including a mosque, a marketplace and a cistern in Sar Yazd village of Mehriz, Yazd province, are over, head of provincial Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Department said.
Abbas Qadirian told IRNA that it took 45 days and 530 million rials to give the historical site a makeover.
According to the official, the operations included reinforcing the walls using mud clay bricks, reconstructing destroyed chambers, brick paving the roof, thatching interior and exterior parts, and macadamizing the walkways at the marketplace.
Dating back to the Safavid Era (1502-1736), the historical complex has been registered on the National Heritage List. The site was constructed by Mohammad Shafi’ Tajer during the rein of Safavid King Shah Safi.
Mehriz boasts about 1,000 historical and cultural venues, 44 of them listed as national heritage sites.
Sar Yazd village is located some 10 km off Mehriz and 40 km off the capital city Yazd.

Designating the historic city of Shiraz as Iran’s cultural capital will be discussed with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the course of a future visit by the chief executive and his cabinet ministers to Fars province.
Fars Governor General Seyyed Mohammad Reza Rezazadeh recalled that provincial officials had earlier put forth the proposal to the president, IRNA reported.
The official insisted that Shiraz is the best candidate for being named Iran’s cultural capital.
Fars governor general noted that executives have seriously followed up the initiative over the past year.
Rezazadeh underlined that people and officials in the province have always demanded that the city become the country’s cultural capital.
“However, no state body had taken any concrete steps to that end up until last year when we began follow-ups through official channels,“ he said.
Rezazadeh recalled that the issue had been proposed at a meeting with Culture Minister Mohammad Hossein Saffar-Harandi and in letters addressed to the High Council of Cultural Revolution.
He explained, “The minister believes other cities also have outstanding characteristics, which requires special designations. He has proposed that an adjective be attributed to each megapolis to describe that specification. We support the culture minister’s proposal.“
Rezazadeh, however, reiterated that if such proposal is to be executed, the most outstanding characteristic of Shiraz is its cultural distinction.
“We appeal to the president and culture minister for helping this dream come true,“ the official stressed. “As indicated at a previous meeting, President Ahmadinejad is positive about the proposal.“

The 900-year-old Tower of London, one of Britain’s top tourist attractions, will be added to the list of endangered world heritage sites unless the threat from encroaching skyscrapers is resolved, the UN’s cultural body said.
According to AP, local planners had not done enough to ensure that views of and from the fortress would not be obstructed by surrounding development, including a 1,016-foot building known as the “Shard of Glass“ that would be Britain’s tallest when completed in 2010, according to a UNESCO interim report.
“It’s a question of visual integrity--and that’s a problem in all major cities,“ World Heritage Center spokeswoman Gina Doubleday said.
Although being listed as an endangered heritage site can help secure additional funding and support, citing the tower would be an embarrassment for Britain. The only site in the developed world currently listed as endangered is Everglades National Park in Florida, which made the list in 1993.
But the government’s Department of Culture, Media, and Sport dismissed the concerns, saying it was confident the tower would not be placed on the list.
“In this country, we have a development control commission that demands very extensive consultations on public matters,“ department spokesman Toby Sargent said. “In the developments they’ve had their attention drawn to, the role of the tower and its place was properly taken into consideration.“
The department would be submitting its own report to UNESCO detailing the efforts made to protect the fortress’s turreted skyline, he said.
The tower, built by William the Conqueror in the 11th century, was made a World Heritage site in 1988, one of 830 such sites throughout the world.