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Bistoon Archaeological Region, Harsin The Behestan Mountains with a height of about 2,794 m. above sea level is located to the right of the of Kermanshah - Hamedan Road. This mountain in different periods was called by the names of Boqestan, Begestan and Bistoon, and today is known as Bistoon. Bistoon is alongside the ancient Silk Road and is located at the crossing point of Iran's western roads. In this area of the Zagross slopes, there are abundant gushing springs, which have caused the area to flourishing and there is a resting point for the travelers and a location for caravans to stop. The Bistoon region due to its special importance in different ancient historical periods has evidences from various eras, right up to the Safavid period. Borj Hill, Kangavar Near the Jooda hill towards the Borj Valley there is a rather tall hill with the remnants of an old castle. The surface of the hill was covered with pieces of plain and glazed earthenware which mostly belonged to the Sassanid and Parthian periods. Among the earthenware pieces green and blue colors are found in abundance. Presently, this is a vicinity completely leveled by the inhabitants. Chamchal Ancient City, Bistoon, Harsin In the down skirts of the Bistoon Mountains by the command of Mohammad Khodabandeh the Oljayto (703-716 A.H.) a town was built known as "Soltan Abad Chamchal" or "little Baqdad". This town was constructed by the Eilkhani sultans in order to be used as the center of Kurdestan instead of "Bahar". In Bistoon excavations in Gamasiyab River banks, on a wall from Sassanid period, relics of the Ilkhanan period have been discovered. These are probably the remainders of the city reputedly known as Chamchal. The Mongol relics in Bistoon, includes a large structure which pertains a high value of importance from the architectural point of view, related to the Eilkhanian period. This building has 13 rooms, 3 porches and a few corridors. The main construction materials of the building are gypsum, mortar and limestone. In some parts of the building sculptured stones of the Sassanid period have been used. This Eilkhani structure was utilized till the late Teimoorid period, but in later periods it became deserted and ruined. Jooda (Jewish) Hill, Kangavar In the north of Kangavar there are the remnants of some ancient hills, the most famous of which is called the "Jooda hill". According to the inhabitants, in the past there used to be a Jewish cemetery at this site, thus the name. This relatively large and elongated hill is placed near a smaller and low-lying hill around which various broken pieces of glazed earthenware have been found. Qorvaqeh (Qoorbaqeh) Hill, Sahneh In southeastern Sahneh at a distance of 2 km., there are two ancient hills. The larger hill is known as Qoorbaqeh (Frog) Hill. The second hill is smaller and is situated on the eastern side of the former. Its surface and surroundings are covered with plain and designed earthenware. Its designed earthenware are compatible to those discovered in third Geyan hillock, the third Goudin hillock, and the ancient civilization of Saqez Abad in the Qazvin plain. Rostam Abad Hill, Kangavar Near the Rostam Abad Village dwellings, 13 km. northeast of Kangavar, a large ancient hill is located. From its tombs, pre-historic vestiges have been discovered which are similar to those pre-historic vestiges of Nahavand. This vicinity is related to the beginning of the second millennium B.C. In the beginning of first millennium B.C., the Kasi Tribe gained dominance here and it is the first time that relics of this period have been discovered in its surroundings. In recent years a considerable amount of bronze objects have been discovered in the region just by accident. Other Ancient Cities and Archaeological Hills, Kermanshah Other ancient areas of the province includes: the ancient Sassanid road in Bistoon area; the ancient city of Kambadneh between the Taq-e-Bostan and Kermanshah city; the Mambeh-e-Ab Hill in north west Kangavar; the Shalmaran hill 2 km. west of Kangavar; and Goudin Hill northwest of the Goudin Village from the distinct of central Kangavar which are related to the pre- Islamic and early Islamic eras. |
