55.3

New findings on an ancient hill near the town of Behshahr in the northern Mazandaran province have pushed back estimates for the age of the town to pre-historical period. Experts believe the history of the Chehel Din hill in the Qareh Tappeh village goes back to the pre-historical period.The ancient hill has been inscribed in the National Heritage List. Meanwhile, a 1200-year old-cemetery has also made an entry in the list. The Sefid Chah cemetery in the Sefid Chah village was used in the Timurid period for burial of the dead. The Musakhan hill near Behshahr is another historically significant site which has been recognized as a national treasure. Head of the local cultural heritage department Soheila Rajai Alavi said the registration of these sites in the National Heritage List puts them under surveillance of the Cultural Heritage Organization and shields them from possible damage. Experts say the ownership of such sites will remain with their legal proprietors but they will be legally barred from carrying out modifications in their property. The Mazandaran province currently has some 234 sites registered on the national heritage list.