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CAIS ARCHAEOLOGICAL & CULTURAL NEWS^©

23 September 2005

Edited by Shapour Suren-Pahlav -- A recent rumour is currently spreading throughout Iranian and international communities, that after the flooding of Bolaghi Gorge, the Achaemenid sites of Pasargadae and Persepolis will submerge.

The mausoleum of Cyrus the Great and Persepolis will not submerge after the inundation of the Sivand dam since Pasargadae is located 9 km away from the furthest point of the future artificial lake – and also a mountain separates the Sivand dam and Pasargadae plain; as for Persepolis it is 70 km far from Sivand which is too far away from the threat of submersion.

The rumour has already created a media and public frenzy, and the concerned public and some organisations inside and outside Iran have already been consumed by this false claim. Some have even started various international campaigns to save the ancient sites from submergence.

Officials have laid the blame on Iranian opposition groups outside Iran – while evidence suggests a different story. Back in July 2004, ICHTO was issued a statement which demonstrated that the rumour was propagated by the Islamic Republic (http://www.cais-soas.com/News/2004/July2004/25-07.htm).

The Islamic regime has propagated this ‘negative-rumour’ of “. . .will never submerge . . ,” as submersion has never been a matter concern for archaeologists and experts. Obviously, this is a clever diversion tactic for diverting attention from the real threats.

These major threats are:- 

	the level of humidity generated from the future artificial lake, would definitely affects the -Pasargadae contractions, in particular cause the mausoleum of Cyrus the Great which is made of limestone to gradually collapse,
	the subterranean waters could weaken the foundation of the Persepolis. An Iranian geologists claimed it could even cause earthquake, which would ultimately destroy the ancient sites,
	the submergence of 130 archaeological sites in Bolaghi Gorge which will result in their total destruction,
	major impact on the ecosystem. Environmental damages to the area the current lakes, water reservoirs as well as wildlife in the Fars Province,
	affect on existing subterranean waters, which will subsequently causes lack of water in various places of the province, which will damage the farming industry in the Province.

In addition, construction of dam is another money making scam for the regime’s leaders. Back in 1992 when Sakou Construction Company which belongs to the Islamic Republic Revolutionary Guards Corps, commenced the construction of the dam, claimed to be finished within 3 years. Now 13 years later with a tenfold costs, still incomplete and costs to the Iranian nation is on daily increase. No one however knows the real cost of the dam as it remains a secret.

The plan for the construction of the Sivand dam was neither for the local farmers nor for prosperity of Iran, but to turn the regime’s dream to a reality: i.e. the destructions of Persepolis and mausoleum of the Cyrus the Great gradually are under the disguise of development and at the same time to make millions of dollars in process.

The destruction of both sites was the dream of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of Islamic republic.

Khomeini immediately after taking over of the power in Iran in early 1980, sent his right-hand-man Sheikh Sadeq Khalkhali to first destroy the tomb of Reza Shah, the founder of Pahlavi dynasty and then to Shiraz to bulldoze down the Persepolis. 

After destroying Reza Sah’s tomb, which Khalkhali faced no resistance, he went on to destroy Persepolis, but this time their dream was shattered as Khalkhali and his thugs faced the local resistance and were chased away.

To this day, however, many unfortunately rather than pay attention to the real problems, they concern themselves with the hoax story of the submergence of these ancient sites, while the guilty party is getting away with their crimes of destroying the world heritage sites and millions of Iranian dollars.

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