Mirak, Semnan: a day at an open-air Paleolithic site
A mound on the plain south of Semnan, with no fence around it, whose story has to be read from the ground.
دکتر میلاد هاشمی
Paleolithic archaeologist
I search for the traces of the earliest humans, where a few pieces of stone tools reveal signs of the technology, thinking and life story of humans tens and hundreds of thousands of years ago! Come with me on a journey into the Paleolithic world!
About this experience
Most of the Paleolithic sites we've heard of are caves. Mirak is different: an open-air site on the plain south of Semnan, about 8 kilometers from the city, where Dr. Milad Hashemi has worked alongside Dr. Hamed Vahdati Nasab. Talking with Atlaseha, he named Mirak as one of the sites we could visit together: “It's an ancient mound, and it isn't fenced off either.” On this day trip, Dr. Hashemi shows what an archaeologist looks for on a plain that looks empty to everyone else: where the water came from, where the raw stone was, and why prehistoric people chose this spot to stay. You'll learn to tell a stone tool from a natural stone, and why picking up even a single piece from the surface of the site destroys its information forever. Lunch is in Semnan, and we return to Tehran in the late afternoon. The meeting point is Tehran for the option with transport, and Semnan for the other option. The program runs with the necessary permits and in coordination with the cultural heritage authorities, and dates will be announced right here once arrangements are confirmed. Photos of the Semnan plain are by Alireza Javaheri on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0).
This page has been translated. The languages your host speaks are listed under Details.
Booking options
2 options; the price changes with your choicePick one of the options below. That price is what your booking will use.
What's included
Dr. Milad Hashemi's company and storytelling Visit arrangements and permit Lunch, water and snacks Transport from Tehran, only with the “With transport from Tehran” option Experience certificate
What to bring
Comfortable walking shoes Hat, sunscreen and water Clothes suited to the season; the plain is sunny by day and cools down in the late afternoon ID card
Frequently asked questions
How is Mirak different from Qaleh Kurd Cave?
Qaleh Kurd is a cave whose layers reach back about 450,000 years. Mirak is an open-air site on a plain. Seeing both helps you understand where and how Paleolithic people lived.
Can we collect stone tools?
No. Removing any object from an archaeological site is illegal and destroys the information about where it was found. Looking, taking photos and asking questions are all allowed.
What ages is the program suitable for?
Ages 12 and up. There's some light walking on the plain.
What if the weather is bad?
Mirak gets little rain and can be visited almost all year round. If the weather doesn't allow it, the program is rescheduled in coordination with you, and you can move to the next date or get a full refund.
When will the dates be announced?
After coordination with the cultural heritage authorities and once the visit permit is confirmed.
Details
- Age group
- Teens and adults
- Host language
- Persian
- Location
- Semnan (exact address after booking)
Where we'll meet
Semnan; the exact spot is shown after you book