The ziggurat of king Untash Napirsha was always know to the locals as Choga Zanbil, or "basket mound" as it resembled an upside-down basket. Major excavation of the 250 acre site was undertaken by the French archaeologist Roman Ghirshman between 1951 and 1962. In its ruin state it towers 82 feet above the plain; in Untash Napir's days it is believed to have been 170 feet.
This page is part of Iran Photo Album
, view the whole site.
Copyright© 1996-99 Iran Photo Album, All rights reserved