Submerged past: dam construction and cultural heritage protection policy in Iran

Journal article

The Iranian plateau, characterised by its scarcity of water, has seen the development of historical settlements along river valleys and water resources, while nomadic communities have determined their migration routes based on water availability and pastures. Throughout its history, the region has implemented various water management solutions, including dams, qanats, and reservoirs, all contributing to Iran’s diverse cultural heritage, with some still in use today. Since the beginning of modern dam construction in the 1950s, Iran has emerged as one of the largest dam builders in Southwest Asia. However, this extensive dam construction has brought about adverse impacts on historical and cultural sites, landscapes, and intangible heritage. For several decades, there was no specific policy addressing the preservation of cultural heritage within dam projects. Concerns raised by cultural heritage experts eventually led to the mandatory inclusion of cultural and historical impact assessments, along with rescue operations, in the overall scope of construction projects.

Despite recent rescue archaeology efforts, they have not fully met the requirements of safeguarding cultural heritage. This paper scrutinises the existing policies related to dam construction and cultural heritage in Iran, offering suggestions to enhance the integration of cultural heritage considerations into development and dam construction programmes.

Authors: Rouhani, B; Nazari, F

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Apice Libri
• Journal: Mesopotamia
• Volume: 59
• Pages: 143-158
• Place of publication: Milan, Italy
• Publication date: 2024-12-31
• Acceptance date: 2024-10-09
• ISSN: 0076-6615
• ISBN: 24028-24-59
• Language: English
• Keywords: cultural heritage; heritage management; rescue archaeology; Iran; dam construction