Alibaigi, S., 2019. The Gawri Wall: a possible Partho-Sasanian structure in the Western foothills of the Zagros Mountains, ANTIQUITY, Project Gallery 93 (370): 1-8. (original) (raw)

Abstract

Survey at Sar Pol-e Zahab has revealed a hitherto unknown long wall in western Iran. Possibly dating to the Partho-Sasanian period, the wall extends more than 100km along the modern border of Iraq and Iran.

Figures (6)

Figure 1. Location of the Gawri Wall in western Iran (afier Labbaf-Khaniki 2018: fig. L)

Figure 1. Location of the Gawri Wall in western Iran (afier Labbaf-Khaniki 2018: fig. L)

Remnants ofa dry stone wal at Sar Pol-e Zahab in western Iran, near the present-day Iranian-Iraq wall comprises natural local materials, such as cobbles and boulder il, known as the ‘Gawri Wall’ or ‘“Gawri Chen Wall’, were discovered i border (Figures 2—4). The , with gypsum mortar sur- viving in places. The wall runs from north to south over the western mountains of Sar Pol-e Zahab, extending almost 1 15km from the Bamu Mountains in t in the north of Sar Pol-e Zal hab County, to Zhaw Marg Village near he area of Salas-e Babajani Guwaver of Gilan-e-Gharb in the south of Sar Pol-e Zahab County. The poor preservation of the wall precluded exact measurement of its width and height, but we estimate it to have approximately three metres high. Remnants of structures, now destroyed, are visible in place: along the wall. These may have been associated turrets or buildings been four metres wide and Figure 5). The route of the Figure 2. Location of the Gawri Wall in western Iran (figure courtesy of O. Sorkhabi).

Remnants ofa dry stone wal at Sar Pol-e Zahab in western Iran, near the present-day Iranian-Iraq wall comprises natural local materials, such as cobbles and boulder il, known as the ‘Gawri Wall’ or ‘“Gawri Chen Wall’, were discovered i border (Figures 2—4). The , with gypsum mortar sur- viving in places. The wall runs from north to south over the western mountains of Sar Pol-e Zahab, extending almost 1 15km from the Bamu Mountains in t in the north of Sar Pol-e Zal hab County, to Zhaw Marg Village near he area of Salas-e Babajani Guwaver of Gilan-e-Gharb in the south of Sar Pol-e Zahab County. The poor preservation of the wall precluded exact measurement of its width and height, but we estimate it to have approximately three metres high. Remnants of structures, now destroyed, are visible in place: along the wall. These may have been associated turrets or buildings been four metres wide and Figure 5). The route of the Figure 2. Location of the Gawri Wall in western Iran (figure courtesy of O. Sorkhabi).

Figure 3. The Gawri Wall in the western mountains of Sar Pol-e Zahab; arrows indicate the line of the wall (photograph by F: Fatahi).

Figure 3. The Gawri Wall in the western mountains of Sar Pol-e Zahab; arrows indicate the line of the wall (photograph by F: Fatahi).

Figure 4. Location of the Gawri Wall in Salmaneh Mount, south-east of Bamu mount (photograph by S. Alibaigi).

Figure 4. Location of the Gawri Wall in Salmaneh Mount, south-east of Bamu mount (photograph by S. Alibaigi).

Figure 5. Satellite images of the Gawri Wall and castle, and structures along the Wall (© Google Earth 2019).

Figure 5. Satellite images of the Gawri Wall and castle, and structures along the Wall (© Google Earth 2019).

Figure 6. Satellite images of the Gawri Wall and a structure along the Wall (© Google Earth 2019).

Figure 6. Satellite images of the Gawri Wall and a structure along the Wall (© Google Earth 2019).

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