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Iranian archaeologist discovers world’s smallest ancient inscription

Wednesday, 27 August 2025 6:34 PM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 27 August 2025 6:34 PM ]

World’s smallest ancient inscription, found in Marvdasht, Fars province, dating to the late Sassanid period.

An Iranian archaeologist has announced the discovery of what is believed to be the world’s smallest ancient inscription.

Dr. Abolhassan Atabaki said the inscription dates back to the late Sassanid period, approximately 1,600 years ago.

Measuring just 4 by 7 centimeters, about the size of a matchbox, the inscription was engraved into a cliff in Marvdasht, Fars Province, using a tool with a tip only 0.5 millimeters wide.

“This exceptional discovery is one of the masterpieces of pure Iranian art of the Sassanid period. Such valuable findings in the field of cultural heritage can serve as symbols of national identity and a source of tourism attraction in the future,” Atabaki said.

Iranian historian Najmeh Ebrahimi stated that the text was written in nine lines of Pahlavi and Middle Persian scripts, with the first two lines obscured by layers of rock sediment.

She explained that the inscription was most likely composed by a resident of the ancient city of Istakhr and contained religious text characteristic of the Sassanid period.

Ebrahimi added that Dr. Atabaki has conducted research and translated the inscription, which is expected to be published in global academic journals in the near future.

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Earlier this year, Atabaki announced the discovery of another rare Sassanid-era inscription in the Marvdasht region. The text condemned the act of breaking promises.

The ancient city of Istakhr, located near Persepolis in southern Iran, was once the seat of the Sassanid kings, featuring palaces, defensive structures, and temples.

The city’s political significance dates back to 224 CE, when Ardashir I overthrew Artabanus IV of the Parthian Empire to establish the Sassanid Empire.

During the Sassanid period, Iranian art and architecture reached their peak, producing magnificent palaces and frescoes at sites such as Bishapur, Naqsh-e Rajab, and Naqsh-e Rostam.

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