Morteza Momenzadeh, Nima Nezafati, Mohammad Rahim Sarraf, Kourosh Shabani

Ancient Gold-Mercury Mining in the Takht-e Soleyman Area, Northwest Iran

Introduction

Ancient gold-mercury mining in the takht-e soleyman area, northwest iran. Explore ancient gold-mercury mining, geology, and mineral resources in the Takht-e Soleyman area, Northwest Iran. Discover newly documented archaeological sites related to ore processing.

Abstract

The world heritage ancient site of Takht-e Soleyman and its assemblage of metal objects, together with the geological wealth and the  vast ancient mining relics of the Takab area motivated the authors to conduct the investigation that led to this article. The ancient  mining and ore processing sites of the Takht-e Soleyman area were surveyed and investigated in an area of 5000 km2. This contribution introduces briefly the geology and mineral resources together with the traces of ancient mining and ore processing in the area of Takht-e Soleyman. Some archaeological sites were found and documented for the first time during this investigation.

Review

The article "Ancient Gold-Mercury Mining in the Takht-e Soleyman Area, Northwest Iran" presents a promising exploration into a significant historical and geological region. The authors' motivation, stemming from the World Heritage site of Takht-e Soleyman, its metal objects, and the rich geological and ancient mining heritage of the Takab area, sets a strong context for the investigation. The paper outlines a broad survey of 5000 km2, aimed at documenting ancient mining and ore processing sites, introducing the regional geology, mineral resources, and traces of ancient extraction. A notable claim is the first-time documentation of several archaeological sites, indicating a substantial contribution to the regional archaeological record. A key strength lies in the extensive geographical scope of the survey, covering 5000 km2, which provides a comprehensive regional overview of ancient mining activities. The interdisciplinary approach, bridging geology, mineral resources, and archaeology, is highly commendable and crucial for understanding ancient extractive industries. The documentation of previously unrecorded archaeological sites is a significant original contribution, potentially offering new insights into the scale, methods, and chronological development of ancient gold-mercury mining in Northwest Iran. Given the focus on gold-mercury, the article holds the potential to shed light on the sophisticated metallurgical practices of ancient civilizations, especially concerning amalgamation techniques and the associated environmental impacts, which are topics of growing interest. While the abstract highlights the introductory nature of the contribution, a more detailed presentation of the specific findings from the newly documented sites, beyond mere existence, would greatly enhance the paper. A critical aspect missing from the abstract, and thus anticipated for the full paper, would be the methodologies employed for dating these sites and artifacts, as well as any archaeometallurgical analyses that link the mining activities to the metal objects from Takht-e Soleyman itself. To fully deliver on the promise of its title, the paper should elaborate on the specific evidence of *gold-mercury* mining. Clarification on how mercury was used in gold extraction, or whether they were co-mined, would be essential. Future revisions or the full manuscript would benefit from a more in-depth discussion of the historical context of these mining operations, their scale, and their potential socio-economic implications for the region and beyond.

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