Quest for Median Evidence at Ecbatana Hill Turns Hopeless

Contrary to what archeologists and historians had previously believed about the existence of Medians at Ecbatana Hill, latest archeological studies at this ancient hill have so far revealed no single evidence from the Median Empire (728 BC-550 BC)... Masoud Azarnoush told CHN that stratigraphy works and dowsing operations in five places on the hill have only revealed evidence of the Parthian civilization (248 BC–224 AD)... "The present theory is proposed based on findings in the area in which soundings were made and it is possible to find evidence of the Medes somewhere else on the hill," said team director Azarnoush... [A]ccording to prominent Greek historians Herodotus and Xenophon, prior to the Achaemenids, the Medians had erected several administrative buildings in Hamedan. These historical accounts also suggest the existence of an immense city in Hamedan left from the time of the Medians, yet to be proved by archeological studies... Ecbatana, or Hegmataneh meaning 'gathering place' where feudal chiefs gathered to discuss political affairs, has been mentioned in Greek texts as the capital of the Median, Achaemenid (550 BC–330 BC), Seleucid (333 BC–248 BC), Parthian, and Sassanid (224–651 AD) empires. Yet the city's origin and historic periods have remained hazy to this date.

Digging in the wrong place, or the wrong hill?

Ecbatana (Hegmataneh) Hill, present day Hamedan province

To: blam; FairOpinion; StayAt HomeMother; Ernest_at_the_Beach; 24Karet; 3AngelaD; 49th; ...

Perhaps the Medes only built in the median.

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2 posted on 01/10/2007 10:59:52 AM PST by SunkenCiv ("I've learned to live with not knowing." -- Richard Feynman https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)

Masoud Azarnoush told CHN that stratigraphy works and dowsing operations in five places on the hill have only revealed evidence of the Parthian civilization (248 BC–224 AD)...

I believe I have spotted the problem.

They're using the wrong rods for that time period. They should be bronze, rather than iron.

3 posted on 01/10/2007 3:12:29 PM PST by ApplegateRanch (Islam: a Satanically Transmitted Disease, spread by unprotected intimate contact with the Koranus.)

LOL! Orrrr, they should try doing it while *stoned*.

4 posted on 01/10/2007 10:24:48 PM PST by SunkenCiv ("I've learned to live with not knowing." -- Richard Feynman https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)

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