The Preliminary Report of the “Land of Persepolis” Project First Season

The article presents the preliminary results of the topographic survey and the study of surface materials conducted during the first season of the "LoP - Land of Persepolis" project. Operating within the framework of the "Iranian-Italian Joint Archaeological Mission in Fars," this project aims, for the first time, to conduct a diachronic study of the settlement of Persepolis. Throughout the 2019 season, which focused on the Bagh-e Firuzi area, the joint team executed a topographical survey of a portion ofthis area and conducted a study of surface materials from the Firuzi 4, Firuzi 6, Firuzi 8, Firuzi 9, and Firuzi 13 sites. Despite previous explorations of these sites, the archaeological and topographical activities of the LoP project led to the discovery of significant data and remarkable artefacts. In addition, the preliminary results suggest that the erection of monumental buildings in Bagh-e Firuzi commenced before the construction of the Persepolis Terrace.