Shahr-e Sukhteh

Shahr-e Sukhteh, often called the Burnt City, is a Bronze Age archaeological site in Sistan and Baluchestan province in southeastern Iran dating roughly from about 3200 to 1800 BCE. It is celebrated for its scale and for a wide range of recovered artefacts that illuminate early urban life and craft specialization.

Excavations have revealed houses, streets, workshops, cemeteries, and complex burial customs, as well as advanced craftwork in ceramics, metal, and organic materials; archaeologists have also reported rare finds such as an ancient prosthetic eye and sophisticated glass and textile remains. The site provides evidence of long-distance contacts and technological innovation in the third and second millennia BCE.

Archaeological work began in the 20th century and has continued intermittently under Iranian and international teams; the site was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in recognition of its archaeological importance. Layers show the city’s growth, phases of occupation, and eventual decline by the late Bronze Age.

The site lies on the Sistan plain in southeastern Iran, in the eastern part of the Sistan region within Sistan and Baluchestan province; it occupies a dry, flat landscape that was once connected to larger river and marsh systems in antiquity.

• UNESCO listing: Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its significance as an extensive Bronze Age urban centre and for exceptional archaeological finds including early technological and craft remains.