WANA (Dec 15) – Iran’s Great Wall of Gorgan, known in historical sources as the “Red Serpent,” has entered the final phase of registration on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, with its technical and scientific documentation now largely complete.

 

If approved, the Sassanid-era monument will become Golestan Province’s third World Heritage site, joining the Gonbad-e Qabus Tower and the Hyrcanian Forests.

 

Stretching nearly 200 kilometers from the eastern shores of the Caspian Sea in Gomishan to the Golidagh highlands, the wall is regarded as the longest ancient defensive structure in Asia after the Great Wall of China and longer than Hadrian’s Wall in Britain. Experts describe it as a masterpiece of military engineering, featuring 38 forts and sophisticated water-management systems.

 

Recent joint studies by Iranian heritage institutions and the universities of Edinburgh and Durham have confirmed that the wall was built in the 5th and 6th centuries AD to defend against the Hephthalites, dismissing earlier claims that it dated back to the era of Alexander the Great. These findings form the scientific foundation of the UNESCO nomination.

 

Officials say the preparation process has accelerated, shifting from academic research to detailed fieldwork, including aerial imaging, advanced mapping, geophysical surveys, and the definition of core and buffer zones to meet UNESCO’s strict criteria.

 

Cultural heritage authorities believe that global registration of the wall could significantly boost tourism, attract investment, and strengthen Iran’s national and cultural identity.

Iran’s Great Wall of Gorgan Nears UNESCO World Heritage Status

Iran’s Great Wall of Gorgan Nears UNESCO World Heritage Status. Social media/ WANA News Agency