New evidence confirms antiquity of 'Persian Gulf' title

Tehran, July 6 (ANI): The second phase of archeological excavations in the Iranian port city of Siraf has yielded new evidence that confirms the antiquity of the Persian Gulf title.

According to a report in Press TV, Iranian archeologists discovered Sassanid and early-Islamic residential strata as well as a number of intact amphoras used in sea trade during the Parthian, Abbasid and early Islamic eras.

"The unearthed amphoras are the first of their kind found in Siraf and can provide useful clues about water trade routes," said head of the Siraf archeology team Mohammad Esmaili.

"The team also found bright red Indian earthenware in the Siraf fortress, which date back to the late Sassanid era," he added.

The fortress lies at the site's highest area and was used to protect the governor and his family during wars.

"The second phase of Siraf excavations aimed to determine the cultural sequence, study the expansion of urbanism in Siraf and explore its commercial relations with southern regions of the Persian Gulf, central Iran, India and china during Sassanid and Islamic eras," said Esmaili.

He added that the recent findings are important evidence proving the age-old title of the 'Persian' Gulf.

While historical documents show that the waterway has always been referred to as the 'Persian Gulf', certain Arab states have recently mounted efforts to remove 'Persian' from the name of the waterway.

Iran designated April 30 as the National Persian Gulf Day to highlight the fact that the waterway has been referred to by historians and ancient texts as 'Persian' since the Achaemenid Empire was established in what is now modern day Iran.

The ancient city of Siraf is located 220 kilometers southeast of Bushehr and approximately 380 kilometers west of Bandar Abbas.

The discovery of east African ivory objects, Indian stone pieces, and Afghan lapis confirmed the use of the historic port as the main marine trade route during the pre-Islamic era and the first four centuries following the advent of Islam. (ANI)