Celebrate Khorramabad: New Commemorative Stamp Honors UNESCO World Heritage Status!
In a remarkable celebration of Iran’s prehistory, a new commemorative stamp has been unveiled, honoring the Prehistoric Sites of the Khorramabad Valley. This significant event took place at the historic Falak-ol-Aflak Castle, attracting over 3,000 attendees, including citizens, cultural leaders, and government officials. The occasion marks the UNESCO World Heritage inscription of one of Iran’s most important Paleolithic landscapes.
The ceremony, hosted by Ata Hasanpour, the Director General of Lorestan’s provincial directorate of cultural heritage, tourism, and handicrafts, included a cultural performance that enriched the event. Traditional Lori music filled the air, played on instruments such as the saz, dohol, and sorna. Acclaimed musician Bardia Mehravar also performed a vocal piece celebrating the prehistoric caves of Khorramabad and the Baradostian culture. This performance was particularly significant as it marked the first time Iran’s Paleolithic heritage has been embraced in popular music, drawing an emotional response from the audience.
Key addresses were delivered by several notable figures:
- Dr. Ata Hasanpour
- Seyed Reza Salehi-Amiri, Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts
- Saeed Shahrokhi, Governor-General of Lorestan province
These officials commended the extensive scholarly and community efforts that led to the UNESCO inscription, acknowledging those who played pivotal roles in this achievement. Certificates of appreciation were awarded to key contributors, including:
- Hasanpour (Lead of the nomination dossier)
- Mohammad Hassan Talebian (Technical and Scientific Supervisor)
- Sonia Shidrang (Corresponding Scientific Author)
- Jebrael Nokandeh (Director General, National Museum of Iran)
- Fereidoun Biglari (Deputy for Cultural Affairs, National Museum of Iran)
In a further tribute, the Khorramabad Municipality recognized Shidrang and Talebian with honorary citizenship for their vital contributions to securing the inscription.
The commemorative stamp was jointly unveiled by Minister Salehi-Amiri and Governor-General Shahrokhi. This initiative, a collaboration between the Lorestan Provincial Directorate of Cultural Heritage and the Iranian Post Company, symbolizes the culmination of decades of archaeological efforts aimed at gaining international recognition for the region’s Paleolithic heritage.
The design of the stamp showcases the archaeological wealth of the Khorramabad Valley through six striking images, including:
- A scene from the 2025 Ghamari Cave excavations
- Rock shelters at Gilvaran and Gar Arjeneh
- A view of Kaldar Cave
- An artistic reconstruction of Upper Paleolithic hunters at Yafteh Cave
Together, these visuals narrate the fascinating story of Iran’s earliest human communities.
Fereidoun Biglari, who proposed the stamp, commented on its significance, stating, “This issuance marks a significant change in how Iran’s national narrative is presented. From the late Qajar period until recently, stamps celebrating Iran’s archaeological heritage focused almost exclusively on historic and Islamic periods.”
He highlighted that a pivotal moment occurred in 2019 when the National Museum of Iran released its first two Paleolithic-themed stamps, featuring:
- A Neanderthal tooth from Wezmeh Cave
- Shell and tooth ornaments from Yafteh Cave
“These stamps marked the first step in bringing Iran’s deep prehistory into the national imagination,” Biglari explained. “The new Khorramabad stamp continues that pioneering tradition, ensuring the story of our earliest ancestors is not confined to academic circles but shared with the public. It is a celebration of scientific achievement and a recognition that Iran’s Paleolithic past is part of our collective cultural identity.”
The Prehistoric Sites of the Khorramabad Valley, inscribed during the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Paris in July, include five caves and one rock shelter. This area preserves evidence of human occupation dating back 63,000 years, with archaeological remains from the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic periods.
These sites offer valuable insights into early human migration from Africa to Eurasia, revealing Mousterian and Baradostian cultures. Significant finds, including symbolic objects and advanced stone tools, highlight the cognitive and technological advancements of Homo sapiens in the Zagros Mountains.
Among the most notable sites is Yafteh Cave, which showcases some of the region’s earliest evidence of symbolic behavior. Additionally, Ghamari Cave preserves traces of Neanderthal occupation, followed by Chalcolithic pastoral communities.
