Effect of Extreme Floods on the Archaeological Sites of Persepolis and Naghsh-e-Rostam, Iran

Extreme floods pose a significant risk to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Persepolis and Naghsh-e-Rostam, Iran. A study using hydrological modeling revealed that while a 10,000-year return period flood would not inundate these sites, a probable maximum flood could submerge parts of the Southern Barzan and Platform at Persepolis. The research estimated peak flows for extreme floods and employed the HEC-RAS model to simulate potential flooding scenarios. These findings underscore the need for routine assessments of archaeological sites to mitigate risks from such events over human timescales.

Naderi, M., Raeisi, E., & Talebian, M. H. (2014). Effect of Extreme Floods on the Archaeological Sites of Persepolis and Naghsh-e-Rostam, Iran. Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities, 28(3), 502–510. https://doi.org/10.1061/(asce)cf.1943-5509.0000442