Ancient Cuneiform Discovered in Iran’s Kermanshah Province

Head of the International Joint Centre for Archaeological Exploration at Razi University of Kermanshah and the University of Copenhagen said part of a cuneiform script and a cylinder stamp with cuneiform inscriptions are the most important archaeological discoveries at the historical hill of Kheybar.

Ali Beigi said the discoveries show people who lived in this region more than three thousand years ago were able to read and write.

“They used the cuneiform to convey their messages. The oldest discoveries on this hill date back to the fifth millennium BCE. However, the latest findings of the exploratory team belong to the Parthian period (slightly more than two thousand years ago). With explorations continuing, more artefacts could be discovered in the lower layers,” said Beigi.

The Iranian scientist said that the archaeological team and some botanists are trying to study the flora of the region to find more about the living conditions of the inhabitants of this region.

“In addition to studying the architecture and pottery, the archaeological group collects animal bones. With the help of experts, they are studying their nutrition and livestock or animals hunted by the inhabitants of this ancient site.”

According to Beigi, the continuation of explorations could allow for the discovery of more artefacts and inscriptions dating back to the 2nd and 1st millenniums BCE.

In October, for the first time in Iran, a tooth belonging to a Neanderthal child was discovered in mountains in Kermanshah.

The tooth, which belongs to a six-year-old child living in the region 42,000-45,000 years ago, was found along with some rocky tools of the middle Paleolithic period.