Tehran, Sept 27 : Iranian archaeologists have identified 100 ancient sites at the Seimareh Dam reservoir in the country’s western Ilam Province.

The sites have been identified as belonging to Neolithic, Bronze Age, Copper Age, Stone Age, Parthian, Sassanid, and early Islamic eras, said team director Rasul Seyyedin Borujeni.

“The sites spread over a vast area. Thus we need a large team of archaeologists in order to begin salvage operations. The success of the project depends on the setting of priorities and the conduction of regular excavations,” Tehran Times quoted Borujeni as telling the Persian service of Cultural Heritage News (CHN) Agency.

The Seimareh Dam is constructed over the Seimareh River, and is located 30 kilometres northwest of the city of Darehshahr.

The filling of the dam has been scheduled to commence by the end of the Iranian year (March 19, 2008).

Initial studies for the dam began in the early 1970s and were completed in 1990. The double-arch dam has a concrete structure and a crest height of 180 meters above its lowest foundation. (With inputs from ANI)