É. Apor (ed.): Stein, Aurel: Old Routes of Western Iran. (Budapest Oriental Reprints, Ser. B 2.)
Chapter I.—In Westernmost Färs
36 IN WESTERNMOST FA RS [Chap. I limestone had been recently disclosed within a small ruined fort. Both bases showed relief decoration of distinctly Achaemenian type, one a scroll, the other a lotus pattern. A ruined central tower may hide more structural remains. But as all digging was declared to have been prohibited under official orders from Tehran, I refrained from a trial excavation. Nor did a small mound passed half a mile farther on towards the bed of the river invite excavation, as what potsherds could be found on the surface included only a few ribbed pieces of late type. It was the same also at a mound, some. 40 yards in diameter and 15 feet high, which was reached after crossing the river, here flowing in a wide bed, and proceeding across rice fields for another 2 miles. Finally, riding along the foot of a very steep spur overlooking the northern (right) bank of the river, we halted at the village of Zirdu Sulaimäni. From our camp at Zirdu I proceeded on December 2nd to visit a reported rock sculpture on the eastern extremity of the rocky spur just referred to. Our way led for about a mile up the river-bed along the foot of the spur and, after crossing and recrossing the river, to the small village of Seh-tälu, which nestles at the northern foot of the precipitous end of the spur. An ascent of about 300 feet led to the top of a cliff bearing a much effaced rock-cut relievo (Fig. 12). At the time I did not know that it had been visited in 1924 by Professor Herzfeld, who has since discussed it at some length in one of his very stimulating Schweich Lectures of 1935 before the British Academy. 8 • See Archaeological History of Iran, 1935, p. 4 sq. ; Pis. II, III. The local name of the rock sculpture, given to Professor Herzfeld as Kurangün, was not heard by me.
