According to archeology expert Habibolah Mahmoudian, the Gartak site lies about 7 kilometers from Ilam city. It includes both a cemetery and a settlement area.
“The site is located on the slopes of Gachan Mountain, surrounded by riverbeds on the north, east, and west, and bordered by the mountain to the south,” Mahmoudian explained. He added that the region is forested, with Russian olive trees growing at the lower edge of the cemetery.
The cemetery itself is situated at a higher elevation than the residential area, directly adjoining the mountain slope.
Shallow excavations at the site have revealed various cultural remains, including pottery fragments, bones, impure glass, and shell fossils. The presence of rubble also points to agricultural activities in the region. Mahmoudian suggested that more graves may lie beneath the sediments left by flooding.
The university instructor further noted that access to abundant springs and natural resources was likely one of the main reasons early settlers chose this location.
Based on the numerous cultural artifacts uncovered, Mahmoudian concluded that the cemetery does not date back to the prehistoric period.
