12/22/16

Ancient Underground City Of Kariz-e-Kish, Iran



The Qanat (Kariz) of Kish or Aqueduct of Kish dates back to 2500 years ago and is one of historical places in Kish island , Iran .The Qanat is located 16 m under the ground and its ceiling is covered by oysters and corals  . It’s vastness is over 10000 square meters. Nowadays the qanat is changed to an underground city.





author of photo: alirezaseydabady


author of photo: alirezaseydabady



Before the Roman aqueduct, the people of pre-Islamic Iran had developed their own hydraulic system called a qanat. A qanat is a series of vertical wells, built along a gentle slope to filter water toward arid areas. The Kish Qanat is an excellent example of this ancient technology and provides visitors with an opportunity to get face to face with the infrastructure of this amazing hydraulic system.


The Kish Qanat is over 2,500 years old and filters water from the mountains to the dry valleys below through layers of the coral that comprise the island’s foundation. Kish is one of the only islands in the world that is made up of coral, and tunneling into the earth there allows for a unique look at the usually underwater specimen.


Sixteen meters below the coral island, a series of tunnels near the wells snake through the earth for more than five miles. As the tunnels cut below the world, the Kish Qanat begins to look more like a massive underground city. Lately, architects hoping to draw tourists to the attraction have embraced that idea even more.


Along with the historic coral walls around the qanat, workers have reinforced the tunnels with mortar and stone to create a subterranean world. Soon, visitors can peruse an update on the early hydraulic system that will feature vendors selling typical Iranian gifts along with a few subterranean restaurants and an amphitheater. Strangely enough, the unique historic element of the island is slowly mimicking its inner tourism side.










author of photo: alirezaseydabady



Sources:
http://www.persiantourismguide.com/
http://www.atlasobscura.com/


Petit Mont Chambered Tomb, Bretagne, France

author of photo:Fab5669


Petit Mont is neolithic site 6,600 years old.The entire cairn measures 50 meters east-west and 53 meters north-south, with an estimated volume of stones of 10,000 cubic meters. Petit Mont chambered tomb we see today is the result of at least three different stages of construction.

author of photo:Fab5669

author of photo:Farz brujunet

The first cairn was constructed on a low mound thought to be about 6,600 years old. This early cairn, 6,500 years old, was a simple trapezoidal mound of small rocks that measured about 30 by 20 metres. The cairn was extended between 6,000 and 5,500 years ago with a simple passage and single chamber. Six of the eight megaliths making up the chamber and three of those making up the passage are decorated. Sometime between 4,700 and 4,500 years ago the cairn was expanded, which destroyed the earlier chamber. Two new single chambered passages were created; the later chambers have more engravings in them than the earlier one.

author of photo:Farz brujunet

author of photo:Farz brujunet

The entrance to the first passage is on the right, the ‘hole’ in the middle of the cairn is one of the entrance to one of the later passages destroyed by the construction of the bunker.

author of photo:Farz brujunet

author of photo:Fab5669

author of photo:Fab5669

author of photo:Fab5669

During the second World War, in 1943 to be precise, a bunker or blockhouse was built into the cairn. The bunker was part of the extensive system of fortifications that formed the Atlantic Wall, running from Scandinavia in the north and along the north-western coast of continental Europe. Construction of the bunker destroyed the two older chambers, but facilitated the excavation of the earlier passage and its chamber.

author of photo:Fab5669

author of photo:Fab5669


12/20/16

Phrygian valley, Turkey



The Phrygians were a civilisation in located at territory of today`s Turkey that came to prominence in the eighth century BC.Their capital city was Gordium, which is the site of the present day city Yassıhüyük, about 43 miles (70 km) southwest of Ankara.



Their capital city was Gordium, which is the site of the present day city Yassıhüyük, about 43 miles (70 km) southwest of Ankara.


The Phrygians had a functioning state, described in 260 inscriptions found throughout their kingdom in Anatolia.


King Midas is the most famous king of the Phrygians, described in both Hellenic legends and Assyrian sources.


After his defeat in battle by the Cimmerians, it is said that he committed suicide by drinking bull's blood.
















There are also and numerous so called “cart tracks” that crisscross across the landscape. These tracks are cut into the bedrock and are evenly spaced, as if made by the wheels of a cart or a vehicle, but much deeper than typical cart ruts. The deepest ruts are three feet deep (90 cm). These tracks are very similar to those found on the island of Malta.

Photo credit: Hidden Inca Tours


Photo credit: Hidden Inca Tours

Photo credit: Hidden Inca Tours

Photo credit: Hidden Inca Tours

Photo credit: Hidden Inca Tours