What does Maragheh have to do with the Greek “Pyramia” and “Samos”?
The Maragheh Fossil Zone, which experts say is one of the five most important vertebrate fossil zones in the world and is referred to as the “Paradise of the World Archaeologists”, is the connection point of this ancient city to the small town of Peykermi and the green and beautiful island of Samos in Greece is adjacent to Turkey.
The fossil region of Maragheh is of special importance in terms of paleontological storage and study of ancient geography on the “Eurasia” page.
Akbar Sohrabi, a member of the faculty of the University of Tabriz, says in this regard in the language of paleontology that the vertebrate fossils discovered from Maragheh along with the “Pyrami” and “Samos” fauna in Greece are one of the most prominent Upper Miocene fauna.
But in addition to that, the establishment of the largest museum of natural history and field museum and also the center of fossil studies of vertebrates in the Middle East in Maragheh is also part of the relationship between Maragheh and the pyramid because the pyramid excavations are based on the article The European Geologist Journal 48 also uncovered a large collection of vertebrate fossil specimens currently housed in the Rafina-Pikrami Municipal Planning Building.
The center includes a small fossil preparation laboratory, a fossil tank, and an exhibition hall with representative fossil specimens and selected animal reconstructions, and the exhibition has attracted public and media attention since its inception.
The importance of the Paleolithic and Samos paleontology
Peykermi has a paleontological site that contains fossils of more than forty species of mammals from the late Miocene (8 million years ago), and what makes this small town world-famous is the discovery of the world’s first fossils from its fossil record.
According to various sources, King Otto’s Bavarian troops first discovered the fossils in 1839, and similar fossils were later found on the Greek island of Samos and in Shanxi, China.
Taking advantage of the relationship between Maragheh and Pikrami and Samos
The “Pyramid” authority on the study of Eurasian mammals and the similarities between the Maragheh fossil region and the fossil regions of these Greek cities is a capacity to bring paleontologists and students to Maragheh, and the University of Maragheh can play a pivotal role in this regard.
To the extent that by concluding cooperation agreements between the University of Maragheh and one of the Greek universities, including the University of the Aegean, one of the campuses of which is located on the green island of Samos, it is possible to attract foreign students and raise the level of the University of Maragheh internationally. Upgraded; The island is only one kilometer away from Turkey and it does not seem to be difficult to get to.
Maragheh and Samos become sisters?
But this is not all, and since the Pyramid fossil region is more famous than the Maragheh fossil region, it is possible to change the tourist activities of this ancient city through the sisterhood of Maragheh with Samos; Especially since this island is one of the tourist destinations of Greece today.
According to IRNA, quoting experts, the registration of the name of Maragheh fossil region as the first national-natural fossil monument of Iran with the highest level of environmental protection, is of special importance from many points of view, including in terms of scientific studies. Biological, phylogenetic, paleoecological, paleoclimatological and paleontology of this region can be useful in raising the level of earth sciences and paleontology of the country.
According to experts, the establishment of the largest museum of natural history and field museum, as well as the Center for Fossil Studies of Vertebrates in the Middle East will play a significant role in the development plans of the country, especially the province.