SAEDNEWS: Masuleh is located 25 kilometers southwest of Fuman County in Gilan Province. The stepped village of Masuleh was registered as a national heritage site in 1975 under number 1090, and efforts to have it recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site began in 2011.
According to the historical section of Saed News, archaeologists working in the highlands of Gilan have uncovered evidence of a metalworking workshop at the site of Kohneh Masouleh, dating back approximately 800 to 900 years. These recent discoveries may influence the status of Masouleh’s UNESCO nomination, which was previously deferred.
Since the summer of this year, Solmaz Raouf, a PhD graduate in archaeology from Tarbiat Modares University, has led a team of archaeologists and researchers in excavations at Kohneh Masouleh. The site was initially identified in the 1990s during road construction when several metal smelting furnaces were revealed. That same year, Ali-Asghar Moghri conducted archaeological excavations at Kohneh Masouleh and discovered traces of iron smelting furnaces, two of which were later reconstructed.
In the early 2010s, the late Behrooz Hamrang excavated the site and found evidence of furnaces, and in 2022, Mojtaba Charmchian uncovered traces of human settlement and furnaces at the same location.
Kohneh Masouleh was registered on Iran’s National Heritage List on June 17, 2006. Since summer 2024, Raouf’s team has resumed excavations. According to Raouf, they have found furnaces that likely reflect multiple stages of iron smelting technology used by the inhabitants.
In addition to the furnaces, the team discovered evidence of a basic metalworking workshop, which is particularly significant because it represents an early form of metalwork, with more developed examples still found in Masouleh today. Local residents continue to practice both metalworking and blacksmithing.
Raouf explained that the newly discovered furnaces were embedded in the rocky floor of Kohneh Masouleh. Later, new flooring was laid, and more recent settlements were established on top. Excavations in higher areas of the site also revealed furnaces and pastoral artifacts, including wool shears and churns (locally called nereh), indicating that those engaged in metalwork were also livestock herders. These findings corroborate references in historical travelogues.
Samples collected for dating are pending analysis, but prior samples from earlier excavations suggest the site’s occupation corresponds to the Seljuk and Ilkhanid periods, roughly the 11th–14th centuries CE. Raouf noted that the metalworking workshops likely date to the same period.
The discovery of the workshop clarifies the industrial process of the region. Iron ore was extracted from surrounding areas and brought to Kohneh Masouleh, chosen for its favorable geographic conditions and wind patterns. Previously, it was thought that secondary metal processing occurred elsewhere, but the identification of the workshop confirms that tool production also took place locally. The team aims to understand both the identity of the metalworkers and the pastoralist communities who lived alongside them.
Excavated pottery reflects the Seljuk, Ilkhanid, and Timurid periods, including blue-and-white glazes, black-painted turquoise glaze, and shadow motifs. Locally made simple red clay pottery also appears at the site. Iron slag and sponge-like iron fragments were found, along with numerous nails collected for documentation.
Pottery from Kohneh Masouleh shows similarities with sites such as Ghal’eh Rudkhan, Kohneh Gorab in Amlash, Tarom in Zanjan, Khalkhal, and Gilehva, indicating cultural connections within the region. Iron ore deposits were identified in surrounding mountains, with evidence of rudimentary furnaces. Although no iron swords were found, the discovered grindstone likely served to produce larger tools such as sickles and axes.
The archaeological evidence suggests the site was deliberately abandoned, with residents taking usable materials with them while leaving behind pottery fragments and unused slag. There is no evidence of warfare affecting the settlement, supported by the presence of a nearby cemetery, pasturing evidence, and the workshop itself. While the cemetery has not yet been excavated, a trench is planned to determine whether any pre-Islamic burials exist.
Excavations are continuing, with seasonal constraints such as high winds, cold, and rainfall limiting the team’s work. Raouf noted that further seasons of excavation—possibly five to six more—will provide a more complete understanding of the site’s industrial and settlement history.
Masouleh, located 25 km southwest of Fuman in Gilan Province, was registered as a national heritage site in 1975 and has been under consideration for UNESCO World Heritage status since 2011. The site was temporarily listed on UNESCO’s tentative list in 2007. In September 2023, the nomination was reviewed at the 45th UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting but deferred by ICOMOS. Iran has been given an opportunity to address concerns before resubmitting the nomination, independent of annual quota limitations.
Iranian archaeologists resumed excavations in late summer 2024 to provide additional evidence supporting Masouleh’s nomination. Their research focuses on the metallurgical culture and lifestyle of historical Masouleh, which was once a center for iron smelting and weapon production.
Excavations at Kohneh Masouleh, situated at approximately 2,500 meters above sea level, are ongoing, with international collaboration, including Chinese researchers conducting archaeometric testing. These efforts aim to complete the documentation necessary for UNESCO consideration and resolve outstanding questions regarding the site’s historical significance.
