Jiroft: The Lost City of the Ancient Iranian Plateau

In the remote valleys of southeastern Iran, where the Halil River winds through rugged mountains and ancient alluvial plains, a series of devastating floods in 2001 would lead to one of the most remarkable archaeological discoveries of the 21st century. The floods that ravaged the region around the modern city of Jiroft not only brought destruction to local communities but also inadvertently exposed artifacts from a previously unknown Bronze Age civilization that had flourished over 4,000 years ago, revealing the existence of a sophisticated urban culture that would challenge fundamental assumptions about the development of civilization in ancient Iran and Central Asia.

The initial discovery began with local residents finding strange and beautiful carved objects washing out of eroded hillsides and ancient mounds following the catastrophic flooding. These artifacts, crafted from chlorite, a soft green stone that could be intricately carved, depicted scenes of remarkable artistic sophistication including elaborate mythological creatures, complex narrative compositions, and religious ceremonies that demonstrated a level of cultural achievement previously unknown in this region. The distinctive style and iconography of these objects was unlike anything that had been documented from ancient Iran, suggesting the existence of an entirely new and previously unrecognized civilization.