Jiroft is a city in the capital of Jiroft County, the birthplace of the oldest civilization of the Eastern World. It is located in the south of Kerman Province; the sub-province of Jiroft is bound by those of Kerman (north), Bam (east), Anbarabad and Kahnuj (south), and Baft (west). Jiroft has three different climate zones: cold, warm, and moderate. On account of its being very fertile land and its variant climate zones, it produces both warm and cold weather crops and has earned the nickname of “Hend-e-Koochak” (the little India). By passing the time it has kept valuable historical and cultural treasures that declare the historical process and socio-economic life of the country.

Twin Konar Sandal Mounds

The twin mounds of Konar Sandal are where a 5,000-year-old Bronze Age civilization, which has come to be known as the Jiroft Civilization, once, lived. This civilization had a writing system, was the innovator of stone and adobe arts and created one of the first urban settlements. Clay tablets found at Konar Sandal have inscriptions in the form of geometric shapes that bear no resemblance to Mesopotamian and Egyptian script and have yet to be deciphered. It is believed that the Elamite written language originated from this writing system. Artifacts found in Konar Sandal include vessels, stone tablets with delicate eagle, scorpion and leopard designs that are unmatched to any artifacts uncovered at various archeological sites.  One of the Konar Sandal mounds has yielded the remains of a city resembling the Burnt city of Sistan with a fortress at its center, a ziggurat-like temple and a two-meter statue of the ruler of this fortress. Many archeologists believe the Jiroft Civilization is actually the lost Aratt civilization mentioned in Sumerian mythology. They believe that further studies of Konar Sandal artifacts will reveal Jiroft and not Mesopotamia as the oldest.

Jiroft Archaeology Museum

The Archaeology Museum of Jiroft houses over 500 artifacts dating back to the third millennia BC. Most of these artifacts belong to the Jiroft Civilization and have been uncovered at the Konar Sandal archeological site.  The museum also houses a limited number of Islamic artifacts. The majority of the museum’s treasures are made of bronze but there are also some marble and ceramic vessels bearing animal and human motifs or a combination of the two. One of the most noted items housed in this museum is a scorpion man statue which has a human head and a scorpion tail.

Natural Attraction

Dareb-e Behesht

Darb-e Behesht is a mountain town which is located in the southeastern part of the country, 80 kilometers from the city of Jiroft. There are many mountains, valleys and water sources in the region around the Darb-e Behesht. Animal Husbandry and farming are the main occupation in this town. The rainiest month is February, with an average of 63 mm of precipitation, and the driest is June, with 3 mm of rainfall.  In summer because of its amazing nature and favorable climate many visitors come to this town.

Dalfard Village

In the northwest of Jiroft, the Dalfard village is famous for growing both warm and cold climate trees such as citrus trees and date palms with walnut, cherry and apricot trees. It has a 10-meter waterfall located 40 kilometers northwest of Jiroft.

Halil Rud

Halil Rud or Halil River is a 390-kilometer permanent river which flows 100 kilometers from Jiroft and the Jiroft Dam has been built over this river. The overflowing of Halil Rud destroyed the city of Jiroft 1,000 years ago. The River also flooded Jiroft in 1993.

Jiroft Dam Lake

Jiroft Dam as the fifth concrete dam built in the country is located 35 kilometers northwest of Jiroft. It is a hydroelectric dam in Iran with an installed electricity generating capability of 85 MWh. This lake is considered one of the largest lakes in Kerman Province, and made up of rivers that flow into Hamoon Jazmoorian including Halil Rood River, Baft River, Rabar River, Teel River, and Esfandaqeh River.