According to Hoseein Azizi Kharanaqi, the director of the prehistorical department of the National Museum and the Secretary of the conference held concomitantly with this exhibition, in addition to its unique natural features, the Lut Desert (empty desert in Persian) is one of the prehistorical human centers and springs of civilizations, particularity at the beginning of urbanism in the south east of Iran, Located on the ancient commercial road between the Central Asia, Indus Valley, Khuzestan and Mesopotamia, with rich mineral mines, human settlements began to take shape here despite its harsh climate, from the Neolithic age, reaching its peak during Iron age in the third millennium BC.
Two ancient site of Shahdad and Shahre-Sukhteh (the Burnt City) on the west and east side of this desert as the two urban centers of the Iron Age are very well-known. As two industrial and commercial centers, they had extensive trans-regional relations with the urban and civilized centers around, playing a significant role in the transmission of knowledge, technology and commerce from the Central Asia to Mesopotamia.
In addition, remains of the Neolithic age found on the edge of the Lut Desert point to its suitable dwelling conditions for hunter-gathers of the Pleistocene age.
A selection of the cultural artifacts unearthed in Shahre-Sukhteh, Shahdad and Laviz will be on show on January 3, 2017 in the first floor of the National Museum.
Source: Tavoos