Tepe Hesar

Tepe Hesar is located in Semnan Province, three kilometres southeast of the city of Damghan, and is considered one of the most important prehistoric archaeological sites on the Iranian Plateau. This historic site lies along the plains surrounding Damghan, close to the Tehran–Mashhad railway line, and because of its particular geographical position it has long been a place of settlement and human activity. The site dates from the fourth to the first millennium BCE, and signs of continuous habitation can be seen from the Chalcolithic (Copper-Stone) Age through to the Bronze Age.

This ancient mound consists of three distinct cultural layers, each representing a period in the life of the early people of this region. In its various layers, archaeologists have found architectural remains, handmade and wheel-made pottery, small clay figurines, stone and metal tools, and signs of farming and animal husbandry. These finds show that Tepe Hesar was one of the important centres for the emergence of civilisation and the development of early industries such as metalworking on the central Iranian Plateau. The site has also yielded evidence of the lifestyle, burial customs and social structure of early communities.

At present, part of the railway line passes through the area of the site, which has placed limitations on its protection and its inscription on the World Heritage List. A visit to Tepe Hesar is usually a historical and educational outing, and the best time to visit is spring and autumn, when the weather in the region is milder. Visiting responsibly, staying out of unexcavated areas and not damaging the historical layers are essential to preserving this valuable heritage.