Japan will lend a hand to restore the ruins of Persepolis, one of Iran‘s most famous world heritage sites.
Persepolis (literally meaning “The city of Persians”) was the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire (ca. 550–330 BC).
Gate of All Nations.
Photo by Alborzagros via Wikipedia.
Persepolis is situated 60 km northeast of the city of Shiraz in Fars Province, Iran. The earliest remains of Persepolis date back to 515 BC. It exemplifies the Achaemenid style of architecture. UNESCO declared the ruins of Persepolis a World Heritage Site in 1979.
Persepolis is threatened by land subsidence due to illegal wells that deplete groundwater resources and is besieged by unrelenting lichens that experts say cannot yet be removed without harming the popular attraction site.
Japan is planning to send a team of archeologists and experts to Iran in the near future, conducting feasibility studies to devise ways of restoring the heritage site.
Authorities believe Japan’s state-of-the-art technology and experts could significantly contribute to the site’s restoration plan.
Although Iranian officials have already made efforts to restore the site, Persepolis’ situation is still worrying and it might lose its UNESCO World Heritage status if efforts to restore the site fail.
Photo credit: Masoudkhalife via Wikipedia.