Jiroft civilization

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History of Iran Empires of Persia - Kings of Persia Proto-Elamite civilization (3200–2700 BCE) Jiroft civilization (3000–5th c. BCE) Elamite dynasties (2700–539 BCE) Kingdom of Mannai (10th–7th c. BCE) Median Empire (728–550 BCE) Achaemenid Empire (648–330 BCE) Seleucid Empire (330–150 BCE) Parthian Empire (250 BCE– 226 CE) Sassanid Dynasty (226–650) Patriarchal Caliphate (637–651) Umayyad Caliphate (661-750) Abbasid Caliphate (750-1258) Tahirid dynasty (821–873) Alavid dynasty (864–928) Saffarid dynasty (861–1003) Samanid dynasty (875–999) Ziyarid dynasty (928–1043) Buwayhid dynasty (934–1055) Ghaznavid Empire (963–1187) Ghori dynasty (1149–1212) Seljukid Empire (1037–1194) Khwarezmid dynasty (1077–1231) Ilkhanate (1256–1353) Muzaffarid dynasty (1314–1393) Chupanid dyansty (1337–1357) Jalayerid dynasty (1339–1432) Timurid Empire (1370–1506) Qara Qoyunlu Turcomans (1407–1468) Aq Qoyunlu Turcomans (1378–1508) Safavid Empire (1501–1722/1736) Hotaki Ghilzai dynasty (1722–1729) Afsharid dynasty (1736–1802) Zand dynasty (1750–1794) Qajar dynasty (1781–1925) Pahlavi dynasty (1925–1979) Islamic Revolution (1979) Provisional Government (1979–1980) Islamic Republic of Iran (1980–Present)
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The Jiroft Kingdom or Jiroft Civilization (تمدن جيرفت) was an ancient civilization that existed in what is now Iran from roughly 3000 BCE to 500 BCE.

Research into this civilization is a relatively recent and ongoing multinational archeological project that aims to uncover an unknown "civilization" in a series of newly discovered sites in Iran's Kerman Province, located at 28°48′N 57°46′E, known as Jiroft or Halilrud area. There are a multitude of related sites in the vicinity.

Sir Aurel Stein was the first archeologist to survey the area in the early 1900s. At least twelve sites are now under excavation in the area, the oldest thought to be more than 5000 years of age. The recent accidental discoveries have led to a surge in illegal excavations and looting, mainly of ancient tombs. The number of smuggled artifacts discovered became so noticeable that police forces had to be dispatched to try stop the looting. Interpol has also been cooperating on stopping the trade sourcing from the area.

The most significant of these sites are Shahr-i Sokhta (Burnt City), Tepe Bampur, Espiedej, Shahdad, Iblis, and Tepe Yahya. Some are in the neighboring Sistan and Baluchistan province.

The recent archeological findings at Jiroft that have uncovered an "independent, bronze age, civilization with its own architecture and language" have led some archeologists to speculate it to be the remains of the lost Aratta Kingdom, though some others disagree. But what is for certain is that this kingdom had a large pottery industry, was a transit hub for trade merchants, and had active interactions with the Elamites.