Shaiful Ben Shahidan, the dispatched evaluator from UNESCO, assessed the historical and cultural capacities of Masuleh by examining the terraced architecture of the city and evidence of the ancient iron industry during his visit. This field evaluation was conducted in line with the global registration of Masuleh in Gilan Province, and the final result will be announced in 2027.
Examination of Historical Artifacts and Handicrafts
The UNESCO evaluator visited the historic Qanbarabad Mosque and the historic market of Masuleh on the first day. He engaged in discussions with the artisans of handicraft shops, knife-making, and blacksmithing, and on the second day, he went to the historical site of the Heights (Old Masuleh). During this visit, Ben Shahidan assessed the operation of thermal structures related to the smelting and processing of iron ore and became familiar with field evidence and stratigraphy of the sites.
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Ali Sharafi, one of the supporters of the global registration of Masuleh, expresses the importance of this project for the residents of Masuleh, stating: “Global registration will make Masuleh a global tourist destination, witnessing the arrival of foreign tourists, which will help boost the local economy.”
Demands of the Local Community and Tourism Capacities
The presence of the UNESCO evaluator in the historic market of Masuleh provided an opportunity to voice the demands of the local community. An old herbalist in the market, who has been active in this market for about three decades, highlights the importance of this visit, saying: “Each of the merchants explained the history and characteristics of Masuleh to the evaluator according to their knowledge and abilities.” Taher Hanifehzad, one of the merchants, also emphasized the importance of the global registration of Masuleh, adding: “We want to introduce the assets of this city to the world.”
Meanwhile, Majid Farnia Masuleh, a shoe-maker, explained the history of shoe-making to the UNESCO evaluator during the market visit and gifted him a pair of shoes. Amin Ghorbani, one of the young merchants, also spoke on behalf of the younger generation with the evaluator, highlighting the importance of Masuleh for attracting foreign tourists.
The file for the global registration of Masuleh was not registered in the 2023 evaluation and was returned to Iran for revision and completion. Reports indicate the necessity of revising the scope and framework of the file as well as the participation of the local community in management and tourism. The UNESCO evaluator is now examining the boundaries and protection status of the site, the management system, and the historical connection between humans, architecture, and nature.
Mostafa Pourali, advisor to the Cultural Heritage Deputy and manager of the global registration file for Masuleh, emphasizes that the history of the ancient iron industry is the main focus of the new file. He refers to historical reports from travelers during the Safavid period that indicate the best iron mines in Iran are located in Masuleh. After the final evaluation, the results of this review will be announced at the 2027 conference in Istanbul.
The historic city of Masuleh, with a history of over a thousand years, is striving to introduce its historical and cultural assets to the world through global registration and to contribute to the flourishing of tourism and the local economy.
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