Taq-e Gara

During the Sassanid dynasty era, all caravans entering Iran from the west were controlled in Taq-e Gara.

The Kermanshah road and Taq-e Gara, which was used as a watchtower for controlling the road and providing security to caravans entering Iran from the west, are considered among the masterpieces of ancient times.

Of course, the actual use of the edifice has not yet been determined.

Experts attribute the structure to the Sassanid era because the interior sections of the walls are filled with gravel and plaster mortar — a style prevalent during that period.

Further studies indicate that there must have been an inscription in this building but there is no trace of this.

The inscription must have been engraved in a block measuring 1.70 meters by 2.40 meters. However, the inscription has completely disappeared; therefore, there is no clue about the text inscribed on it.

Archeological and geophysical evidence indicate the well-developed technology of the Iranians in road construction during the Sassanid era.

All caravans entering Iran from the west were controlled from Taq-e Gara. The incline envisaged in constructing the road, the protection wall built for preventing the possible threats caused by landslides and floods on the road and the several bridges built along the route all show that ancient Iranians has professional civil engineers and well developed technology in road construction during the Sassanid era.

Taq-e Gara is located 90 kilometres to the west of Kermanshah in Sar Pol-e Zahab district in the heights known as the Gate of Zagros. It is believed that it dates back to the Sassanid era but its exact antiquity is not yet known and some argue that it must have dated back to the Parthian era (150 BC-226 AD).

Taq-e Gara was constructed using stone blocks and the interior walls of the building were covered with rubble and plaster. The height of the building is 11 meters and the interior walls are engraved with geometrical designs. There is a cradle-shaped arch cut as a passageway into the mountain and the entrance of the structure is made of large rectangular blocks of stone.