Meymand Troglodyte Village, located near Shahr-e Babak in the Kerman Province of Iran, holds a significant historical and cultural legacy. It is believed to be one of the oldest human settlements on the Iranian Plateau, with a history dating back approximately 12,000 years. The village features ancient stone engravings that are nearly 10,000 years old, and pottery fragments dating back 6,000 years have been discovered in the area.
The village itself is unique in that many of its approximately 100 residents still live in traditional hand-dug houses carved into the rocks. Some of these dwellings have been continuously inhabited for up to 3,000 years, making Meymand one of the oldest continually inhabited places in Iran.
Living conditions in Meymand are challenging due to the region’s aridity and extreme temperatures, with scorching summers and very cold winters. Despite these harsh conditions, the village has maintained its cultural heritage and traditions over millennia, partly due to its geographical isolation. The local language spoken in Meymand includes elements from ancient Sassanid and Pahlavi languages, which have persisted largely unchanged over time.
Meymand Troglodyte Village stands as a testament to human resilience and adaptation in challenging environments, offering insights into ancient ways of life and cultural continuity over thousands of years.