TEHRAN– Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts on Thursday called for Damghan in Semnan province to be developed into a center for civilizational studies in eastern Iran, stressing the need for scientific protection and integrated management of two major historical sites in the city.
Seyyed Reza Salehi-Amiri made the remarks during a visit to Tepe Hissar and Tarikhaneh Mosque, describing them as part of Iran’s “strategic identity assets”, IRNA reported.
He said the two sites have the capacity to become active centers for presenting Iranian-Islamic identity at national and international levels and that protection and presentation infrastructure should be strengthened.
Salehi-Amiri stressed coordination among relevant authorities to improve protection and management of the sites’ buffer zones. He said preservation must be based on scientific studies, systematic planning and inter-sectoral cooperation to ensure proper introduction domestically and abroad.
Referring to Tepe Hissar, the minister said the site is not only an archaeological location but a sequence of civilizational layers that narrate part of the formation of Iran’s historical identity.
Tepe Hissar, with a history of more than 7,000 years, is considered one of the most important archaeological sites in eastern Iran. It is among the first systematically excavated Bronze Age settlements on the northern Iranian plateau and has been explored by Iranian and foreign researchers. Findings include gold artifacts and other historical objects, some of which are kept at the National Museum of Iran.
Salehi-Amiri said integrated management of the site’s surroundings and upgrading protection measures should be prioritized in provincial plans to prevent potential damage.
During a visit to Tarikhaneh Mosque, he said the structure, with a history of more than 1,000 years, is a prominent example of early Islamic architecture in Iran and reflects the region’s cultural and spiritual standing in that period.
Also known as Tarik Khana, the mosque reflects the architectural transition between the Sassanid and early Islamic periods. It is believed to have been built in the second century of the Islamic calendar on the ruins of a Zoroastrian fire temple dating back to the Sassanid era (224–651), combining Sassanian construction techniques with an early Arab design.
Salehi-Amiri said the formation of such a structure in the second century Hijri demonstrates the depth of religious beliefs and architectural capability of the people of the region and could play a role in Iran’s cultural diplomacy.
He then described Damghan as having undiscovered historical capacities and said a significant part of the region’s archaeological potential requires deeper research. Universities and research centers should pursue targeted study projects in this field, he added.
The minister underlined establishing appropriate infrastructure for presenting historical sites is necessary, including a standard museum space to narrate the city’s history. He said expanding cultural spaces could contribute to attracting domestic and foreign tourists.
Semnan’s Governor-General Mohammad Javad Kolivand, Member of Parliament Ali Akbar Alizadeh representing Damghan, Friday prayer leader Hojjatoleslam Hossein Rostamian and other provincial and local officials attended the visit.
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