Posted on 03/03/2007 8:17:44 AM PST by aculeus
During their third season of excavations, archeologists succeeded in discovering some more corridors in the underground city of Nooshabad, 13 meters below the ground.
Nooshabad underground city
Tehran, 25 February 2007 (CHN) -- Continuation of archeological excavations in Nooshabad underground city in Isfahan province resulted in the discovery of some more corridors and chambers at a depth of 11 to 13 meters from the ground surface.
"We were trying to get access to the lower stories of Nooshabad underground city through digging a corridor at the back part of the ancient water reservoir of the city when we came across a number of corridors at 11 to 13 meters below the ground which were created as passageways for people during the ancient times," said Zahra Sarookhani, head of the excavation team in Nooshabad to CHN.
Nooshabad underground city was discovered accidentally about two years ago during construction activities by one of the inhabitants of Nooshabad city. Historical evidence indicates that this underground city was mainly used as a shelter by people during the Mongol invasion of Persia in the 13th century and remained in use in emergency cases until late Qajar dynastic period (1787-1921 AD).
According to Sarookhani, archeologists have also succeeded in identifying more number of chambers which were lit by candles and torches devised beside the walls.
"Some raised platforms can be seen in some parts of the discovered areas. The chambers are different in size and all the corridors are hand-dug and are connected to each other. Some other facilities such as restrooms were also constructed in this underground city for the people's convenience," added Sarookhani.
The main problem archeologists have to confront with during their excavations in the underground city of Nooshabad is the polluted air of this underground city caused by the flowing of sewage from the modern city of Nooshabad into the underground city.
Sarookhani further explained that in a near future, the underground city of Nooshabad will be ready for public visit. "Through connecting the corridors to each other, we are trying to prepare the underground city for public visit," said Sarookhani.
Located 8 kilometers north of Kashan in Isfahan province, Nooshabad is one of the most famous underground cities of the world. Archeologists believe that this underground city was constructed in three stories, two of which have been unearthed so far during archeological excavations.
Interesting.
Sure, the raw sewage flowing through is such a tourist draw.
It would be interesting to know how they would overcome that little difficulty. Seems to me that the passages could be in jeopardy of caving in from the moissture.
What a discovery! They were expecting tunnel corridors dug with Caterpillars?
Maybe they need to recalibrate their tourist department's ideas about tourist attractions.
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Well it could have been space aliens, but then again the space aliens might have had to use shovels.
Could this be the remnants of a pyramid given that it is three stories?? or a castle type structure?? I would suppose the outermost walls would be what we need to know.
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