Historic mihrab unearthed during restoration at Iran's UNESCO-listed Pasargadae
A historic mihrab (prayer niche) has been discovered during restoration and conservation work at the caravanserai within the UNESCO World Heritage site of Pasargadae in southern Iran, according to local cultural heritage officials.
Seyed Abdolmajid Abedi, head of the Pasargadae Department of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, said on Sunday that the newly uncovered mihrab is of considerable architectural and artistic significance and could provide fresh insights into the site's religious history, historical transformations, and architectural development.
According to Abedi, the structure was immediately documented following its discovery.
"Experts have launched detailed studies, including comprehensive documentation, condition assessment, and comparative analyses, to determine the mihrab's precise historical period and original function," he was quoted as saying by IRNA News Agency.
"The craftsmanship displayed in the decorative elements reflects the high level of skill of its builders and suggests the structure held a significant place within the architectural complex," Abedi added.
Abedi also explained that emergency conservation measures are currently underway in accordance with international heritage preservation standards to protect the newly discovered feature from potential damage.
"The final results of the archaeological and historical analyses will be released after the studies are completed," he noted.
Located about 135 kilometers northwest of Shiraz, Fars province, Pasargadae was the first dynastic capital of the Achaemenid Empire.
It was founded in the 6th century BC by Cyrus the Great as the ceremonial center of what became the first great multicultural empire in Western Asia.
Among Pasargadae's best-known monuments are the Tomb of Cyrus the Great, the royal gardens, Cyrus' private palace, the stone structure known as the Prison of Solomon (Zendan-e Soleiman), and the Tall-e Takht citadel, which remained in use from the Achaemenid era through the late Sassanian period.
Inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2004, Pasargadae also preserves an advanced ancient water management system consisting of cisterns, tunnels, underground canals, and qanats, reflecting the sophisticated engineering achievements of the Achaemenid civilization.
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