PRESS TV, Iran
March 26 2007

Ancient cave holds historic riches
Mon, 26 Mar 2007 08:39:52

Inhabited by the descendants of the Median Empire, the western
Iranian province of Kurdistan is an ancient area within the country
that is home to old and astonishing monuments.

There is a cave between the townships of Divandarreh and Saqqez that
reveals Arsacid dynasty riches which predate the birth of Christ.

The Karaftu cave has an engraving in Latin on the opening wall with a
stone script which literally reads, "Where Heracletus dwells the evil
can not enter." The cave is said to have been a temple of the Grecian
deity.

Another wall illustrates a rider who is hunting a deer.
Archaeologists attribute the scene to the Parthian king Gudarz after
he defeated the Armenian Monarch.

The 750-meter-long calcareous cave dug into the mountain has survived
many different eras with people using it as accommodation. It
includes four floors and a few chambers which all reflect different
elements of ancient civilizations.

The first archeological excavations conducted at the site occured in
2000.