User:Oldest civilization

Jiroft
The Jiroft Kingdom or Jiroft Civilization (Persian تمدن جيرفت) was an ancient civilization that existed in what is now Iran from roughly 3000 BCE.

Research into this civilization is a relatively recent and ongoing multinational archaeological project that is uncovering a previously unknown "civilization" in a series of newly discovered sites in Iran's Kerman Province, located at 28°48′N, 57°46′E, known as Jiroft or Halil Rud area. At least twelve sites are now under excavation in the area, the oldest thought to be more than 5,000 years old.

The most significant of these sites are Shahr-i Sokhta (Burnt City), Tepe Bampur, Espiedej, Shahdad, Iblis, and Tepe Yahya. Some are in the neighboring Sistan and Baluchistan province.

Many archaeologists believe that the Jiroft civilization was as important as Sumer and Mesopotamia, while Majidzadeh believes the findings show that the Jiroft civilization might be older than the Sumerian civilization, which is the oldest known civilizations.[1]

The recent accidental discoveries have led to a surge in illegal excavations and looting, mainly of ancient tombs. The number of smuggled artifacts discovered became so noticeable that police forces had to be dispatched to try stop the looting. Interpol has also been cooperating on stopping the trade sourcing from the area.

The recent findings that have uncovered an "independent, Bronze Age, civilization with its own architecture and language" have led professor Yusef Majidzadeh, head of the archaeological excavation team in Jiroft, to speculate them to be the remains of the lost Aratta Kingdom, though others disagree. But what is certain is that this kingdom had a large pottery industry, was a transit hub for trade merchants, and had active interactions with the Elamites.

Archaeologists have found the oldest inscriptions in the world, along with a ziggurat and many other artifacts indicating that the Jiroft Civilization was the birthplace of art and was an important part of history.

Jiroft Civilization Predated Sumer
Many archaeologists believe that the recent discoveries prove that the Jiroft civilization was as important as Sumer and Mesopotamia. Findings show that the Jiroft civilization was older and more advanced than the Sumerian civilization, which is one of the oldest known civilizations