TEHRAN, Feb. 25 (Mehr News Agency) -- A team of archaeologists has recently discovered a large fortress dating back to the Parthian era (250 BC-226 CE) near the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf area.

image from Google Earth

Covering an area of 15,000 square meters, the structure is the biggest Parthian fortress ever to have been discovered team director Siamak Sarlak told the Persian service of CHN on Monday.

"The fortress is now located 1500 meters north of the Strait of Hormuz. However it had originally been constructed on the shore of the strait due to the water level prevailing at that time," he added.

The position of the fortress reconfirms the strategic importance of the strait even during the Parthian era, Sarlak noted.

The fortress has been constructed on a regular plan and comprises many square-shaped rooms positioned in a symmetrical pattern.

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