TEHRAN, Aug. 4 (Mehr News Agency) -- The Sassanid site of Barm-e Dalak has been turned into a garbage dump.

Located in southeastern Shiraz in Fars Province, the site is home to two Sassanid bas-reliefs both carved on a small rock, the Persian service of CHN reported on Tuesday.

Waste material from construction projects and industrial activities has been dumped at the site.

In addition, tar residues from an asphalt manufacturing plant are released into a nearby rivulet, polluting the environment.

A marsh has also been created by the rivulet nearby, increasingly polluting the site.

Barm-e Dalak was a holy site during the Sassanid period. One of the bas-reliefs depicts two people respectfully standing before a burner. One of the people is believed to be Sassanid king Bahram II (reigned 276-293).

The other bas-relief shows a woman receiving a flower from a man, who is surmised to be a prince.

These bas-reliefs are important for featuring types of royal costumes in use during the Sassanid period.

The bas-reliefs have deliberately been defaced by vandals and also by writing graffiti.

Making excuses for its negligence, the Fars Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Department stated that all it could do would be to provide security for the bas-reliefs since Barm-e Dalak is located in an area owned by a private sector organization.

... Payvand News - 08/04/09 ... --