Excavation begins to identify cause of drying at CheshmehAli in Rey

Excavation begins to identify cause of drying at Cheshmeh-Ali in Rey

TEHRAN – Excavation operations have begun at the historical Cheshmeh-Ali spring in Rey, southern Tehran, to identify the source of its water and examine the condition of its water bed in a bid to determine the causes of its drying and propose revival measures, a local cultural heritage official said.

Mohsen Sa’adati, head of the Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts office of Rey county, said the excavation is being carried out by the Tehran Metro Company under an order from the Rey prosecutor’s office.

“The excavation has started in order to identify the water source and its catchment basin,” Sa’adati was quoted as saying by ISNA on Sunday. He said the operation also aims to examine the condition of the water bed, identify factors that contributed to the drying of the spring, and present operational solutions for its restoration.

Sa’adati said the drying of Cheshmeh-Ali has remained a key cultural heritage issue in Rey and beyond and will continue to be pursued until a positive outcome is achieved. He added that coordination with relevant authorities would continue to create conditions for reviving the site.

Cheshmeh-Ali, located on the slopes of Bibi Shahrbanu mountain on the outskirts of Rey, is regarded as one of the region’s significant natural and historical landmarks. Archaeological studies indicate that settlement and use of the spring date back to the Neolithic period, with some research estimating that civilization around the site dates between 7,000 and 10,000 years.

Over recent decades, the spring’s water flow, once known for its steady discharge, has declined. The first signs of a significant drop appeared in the early 2010s. In 2017, the water flow was temporarily cut off. Although water partially returned afterward, the spring bed has been completely dry for about three years, raising concerns among cultural heritage experts and activists.

Experts have cited two main factors in the complete drying of the spring: alteration and blockage of natural water channels due to construction projects and metro excavations, and a drop in groundwater levels caused by drought and overextraction of water resources. Some analyses have linked tunnel excavation for Line 6 of the Tehran metro and station construction to the decline in water flow, while some project officials have attributed the problem primarily to reduced rainfall.

Local residents and heritage activists have repeatedly warned about the abandonment of the spring bed and the threats posed by urban development to its survival and revival.

Last November, Deputy Cultural Heritage Minister Ali Darabi said the revival of Cheshmeh-Ali is “a national demand” to preserve the historical identity of Rey. Speaking during a visit to the site, he said it is among the oldest human settlements in southern Tehran and has played a role in the formation of the civilization of Rey and the current capital over centuries.

“Revival of Cheshmeh-Ali doesn’t only mean to return the water to it. Rather, it is an effort to return the historical identity and cultural spirit of Rey inhabitants,” Darabi said. He called on all administrative bodies, from the municipality to the subway company and service institutions, to act to finalize the project.

Cheshmeh-Ali, meaning “Spring of Ali,” is an underground mineral stream that flows into an open-air pool that has long served as a destination for visitors and a recreational site for local residents. During summer, hundreds of people used to gather at the site for swimming and leisure activities.

The site lies near several historic landmarks, including the Ebn-e Babveyh cemetery, the 12th-century Tughrul Tower, Rashkan Castle and Rey Castle. A 19th-century rock-carved relief commissioned by Qajar king Fath Ali Shah overlooks the pool. The area also contains an archaeological site estimated to date back to the fourth millennium BC.

Tehran City Council member Ahmad Masjed-Jamei has previously said the spring’s flow halted after a tunnel was drilled along Line 6 of the subway, adding that subway authorities should clarify how the rail route was designed and what measures have been taken to address the issue.

Narratives say locals once washed their rugs in the mineral water pool, believing it enhanced the brightness of the colors.

AM

source: tehrantimes.com