TEHRAN, Jul. 13 – The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has officially added the Prehistoric Sites of the Khorramabad Valley in the west-central Iranian province of Lorestan to its list of world heritage
The decision was made at the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in the French capital, Paris, on Friday, marking a first for Iran, as the country has never before had a cluster of sites from the Paleolithic era included on the prestigious list.
The recognition also marks a major milestone in understanding early human history in the Zagros Mountains.
The prehistoric caves date back over 60,000 years and are considered one of the oldest known human habitats.
The sites, including the Yafteh, Kaldar, Qomri, Konji, and Gilvaran caves, are situated along a significant migratory route used by early humans traveling from Africa to Asia and Europe.
Situated in the western Zagros mountain range, the Khorramabad Valley has been an important cultural and ecological corridor between Mesopotamia, the Iranian Plateau, and Central Asia for millennia.
UNESCO experts have emphasized the uniqueness of the site, stating that no other location with such ancient, verified human habitation has been recognized globally.
The nomination represents the result of extensive interdisciplinary research and collaboration among Iranian and international experts over the course of several years.
Iran’s new inscription adds it to a prestigious group of countries, including France’s Vézère Valley, Spain’s Altamira Cave, China’s Zhoukoudian, Indonesia’s Sangiran, and India’s Bhimbetka, that preserve Paleolithic sites on the World Heritage List.
For the international archaeological community, the recognition of Khorramabad’s prehistoric site represents not only a significant scholarly achievement but also a major cultural milestone.
The region now rightfully claims its place in the world’s human evolution, connecting continents, timelines, and species in one valley that has witnessed over 60,000 years of human history.
MEHR
