Jiroft: The Lost City of the Ancient Iranian Plateau

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.