While excavating Sarvestan Palace, one of the most magnificent monuments of the Sassanid era (226-651 CE), Iranian archeologists have unearthed a vast archeological site south of Iran.
     Housing Iran’s oldest brick cupola, Sarvestan palace was built during the reign of Bahram "Gur" (The Zebra-Hunter, 420-438 CE) as a leisure mansion and is made of brick, stone and plaster. Mehrnevsi, his minister ordered the construction of this palace. It has one entrance corridor and the dome is located in the center of the building.
     The new discovery has revealed that the area was inhabited since 6,000 years ago, 4,500 years older than previous estimates, said Amir Pirooz Daghooghi, project manager. “We have unearthed earthenware vessels in the site, clearly indicating the area was inhabitable since the 4th millennium BCE,” he added.

Source: Payvand (14 August 2004)