1. OFFICIAL CLASSIFICATIONS AND CATEGORIES

1.1 National and International Classification Lists

Iran (Islamic Republic of) Date of Submission: 05/02/2008 Criteria: (i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi) Category: Cultural Submitted by: Iranian Cultural heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization State, Province or Region: Province of Khuzestan Ref.: 5269

1.2. Cultural Landscape Category/Tipology

Organically evolved landscapes
Relict (or fossil) landscape

1.3. Description and Justification by Med-O-Med

Description

This cultural-natural-historical site encompasses Ashkoft Salman, Koul Farah, Khoung Azhdar and many other properties dating back to 1300 to 700 years ago. In the rock paintings, the figures have been painted one after another in a way that they make a background for the perspective. It is the first time that women have been painted together with men in Iranian paintings. — Izeh (Persian: ايذه‎, also Romanized as Īz̄eh, also known as Malāmir, Izaj, and Malemir)[1] is a city in and the capital of Izeh County, Khuzestan Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 103,695, in 20,127 families.[2]

2. NAME / LOCATION / ACCESSIBILITY

  • Address: Coordinates: 31°50′03″N 49°52′02″ECoordinates: 31°50′03″N 49°52′02″E Country Iran Province Khuzestan County Izeh

3. LEGAL ISSUES

4. HISTORY

In the Elamite period it was known as Ayapir and sometimes Ayatem. Arabs called the town as Idhaj. The local dynasty of Lor Atabakan the Greats (Atabakan-e-Lor-e-Bozorg) renamed it in Malemir or Malmir (“king’s house” or “capital”). This name has been used until 1935 when with government’s approval, it is changed again to Izeh. Nevertheless it’s sometimes called as Izeh-Malemir.

5. GENERAL DESCRIPTION

5.1. Natural heritage

  • Heritage: Archaeological
  • Geography: High Mountain
  • Site topography: Natural
  • Climate and environmental conditions: Izeh has temperate weather in spring and summer, although in winter it is usually the coldest city in the Khuzestan province.
Land uses and economical activities:
It is an agricultural rather than an industrial city. The foremost product is rice (locally called Berenj) that mostly comes from Susan, Sheyvand, Meydavood and Chitanbe. Izeh also has mines of rocks and minerals.

5.2. Cultural Heritage

A) Related to current constructions, buildings and art pieces in general
B) Related to ancient remains
  • Archaeological components:

    It is famous for its dam and ancient monuments that are located in Kul-e Farah, Eshkaft-e Salman, Khongazhdar, Tagh e Tavileh, Shir-e Sangi (Stone Lion cemetery), Shahsavar relief, Khong e Kamalvand, Khong e Ajdar, Khong e Yaralivand and Sheyvand relief.

C) Related to intangible, social and spiritual values
  • Population, ethnic groups: is populated by Bakhtiari, a tribe living in the northern part of the Khuzestan area.

5.3. Quality

6. VALUES

Authenticity:
Comparison with other similar properties The rock carving of Anubanini in Sar e Pol Zahaab
Universality:
ustification of Outstanding Universal Value Generous nature of Bakhtiari (Mid Zagros) provides the mankind with all they need for living: I. Providing their most needed things andprotecting against devil and enemies, our ancestors selected the narrow paths in the mounts to build their temples to worship God. Near Izeh on the rocks of Narsi Na (Koul Farah) and Tarisha (Ashkoft Salman) on the western and eastern sides of fertile Izeh plain and at a1 Okrn distance of Izeh city, talented architects touching up rocks with a bit of artistic decoration to carve devine symbols, drawing of sacrifices and a line of worshippers offering valuable gifts before the king and the king folks. The above mentioned story inscribed in Ilimite documents was written in cuneiform. Name "Aya pir" has been also mentioned. enerous nature of Bakhtiari (Mid Zagros) provides the mankind with all they need for living: I. Providing their most needed things andprotecting against devil and enemies, our ancestors selected the narrow paths in the mounts to build their temples to worship God. Near Izeh on the rocks of Narsi Na (Koul Farah) and Tarisha (Ashkoft Salman) on the western and eastern sides of fertile Izeh plain and at a1 Okrn distance of Izeh city, talented architects touching up rocks with a bit of artistic decoration to carve devine symbols, drawing of sacrifices and a line of worshippers offering valuable gifts before the king and the king folks. The above mentioned story inscribed in Ilimite documents was written in cuneiform. Name "Aya pir" has been also mentioned. II. Next to Shooshun (a plain with rich culture), Ilimite natural temples are considered unique. Carvings on the walls of the cave in Ashkooft Salman and creation of such a perfect collection of magniJicent inscriptions on the rocks needed modern tools and management capabilities. This creative masterpiece gives the next generations a great amount of knowledge about the rich culture in trust. Proper selection, clever designing of decoration in these natural temples and utilizing huge rocks harmoniously all signzfi their creatorsr innovation and made a unique temple in Koul Farah. III. Drawing of a queen as tall as the king and by his side in carved rocks and name her in Ilimite inscriptions in cuneiform is not a fable. This can reveal the ladies with influential political role and can be considered as a valuable historical document for the claim that in Iranian culture women were of great position like men. This lady can be a sister of the king or successor. IV. Tarisha and Narsi Na temples are prominent samples of locating proper places of great silence, deserted and spiritual environment and a natural observatory for temples. Though the man-made changes have been almost disappeared (archeological excavations should be made in the area), eye catching view of green and fertile plain of Izeh with two beautiful ponds could be magnificent in itself V. Signs of the life is scattered on all the surrounding mounts of narrow path temples. Mian Dasht ancient hills with some remains of Ilimite reveals the great culture of this civilization. VI. Customs, rituals and traditions of the land are rooted in forgotten believes like Totemism, Tabooism, Fetishism and Animism and divine religious that are apart of its history. Dwellers of this fertile land selected to be nomads due to the natural conditions of the area.

7. ENCLOSURES

Bibliography:

http://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5269/ http://www.4icu.org/reviews/13279.htm http://www.worldheritagesite.org/sites/t5269.html