5,000 year-old artificial eye unearthed

01/02/09

Press TV - Iran's Sistan-Baluchestan Province has published a bulletin about the artificial eye, unearthed in the historical Burnt City site.

"Published by Sistan-Baluchestan cultural heritage office, the bulletin contains information about the results of the tests performed on the eye," said head of the Burnt City archeology team, Seyyed Mansour Seyyed Sajjadi. The Persian-English bulletin was published at the start of the 12th phase of Burnt City archeological excavations. The 5,000 year-old eye was unearthed two years ago and is believed to be the oldest prosthetic in the world. Made of natural tar and animal fat, the eye was placed inside the left eye socket of a 28- to 32-year-old woman. A leather pouch was also found beside the female skeleton appears to have been used to keep the eye when it was removed. The 5000-year-old Burnt City is located near the northeastern city of Zabol and spans an area of over 300,000 hectares. Four civilizations have lived in the city which was burnt down three times and not rebuilt after the last fire. The world's oldest animated picture, dice and backgammon set, and caraway seed has been found in Burnt City. Payvand