Iran seeks inclusion of ancient windmills in UNESCO World Heritage List

Iranian vertical windmills, known as asbads, may receive UNESCO World Heritage status. This was reported by the Tehran Times, a partner of TV BRICS.

Ali Darabi, Deputy Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts of Iran, called on local authorities to assist in the prompt completion of the nomination application.

“These windmills are a significant cultural asset, and South Khorasan holds the majority of them,” he said.

In October this year, one of the asbads is scheduled to be launched for grinding wheat. This working museum exhibit will clearly demonstrate the uniqueness of this ancient technology to UNESCO experts.

Asbads are an engineering invention dating back more than a thousand years, which, according to historians, originated in Iran and spread from there throughout the world. There are 310 structures preserved in the province of South Khorasan, which is 79 per cent of the total number in the country. UNESCO recognition will not only confirm the value of asbads, but may also contribute to the development of tourism in the country and the protection of these monuments.

Photo: bd / iStock