An ancient underground city believed to have been used as a shelter during wars by habitants has been discovered in the western Iranian province of Hamedan.
The city is located near the village of Arzanfud, 25 km southeast of the city of Hamedan, the Hamedan Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Department (HCHTHD) announced on Saturday in a press release. The city, which is comprised of 25 rooms connected to each other by several corridors, had been dug under a stone mound at a depth of four to six metres.
According to initial studies, the city likely dates back to the kingdom of the Medes or the Parthian era (247 BC-224 AD).
The city's original entrance has not been found so far, but it is accessible through an opening that has been made by HCHTHD's experts. There are holes carved in the walls, which had been made to hold early light fixtures. A crib has also been identified in the structure. A number of stone rings and clasps have also been discovered in the city. No more details were mentioned about the discovery.