Gonspan Hill (Patapeh)

The ancient hill of Gonspan (Patapeh) is one of the most valuable historical sites in Malayer County, Hamadan Province. It has a very long history, and the artifacts discovered here show that people have lived in this area since the third millennium BCE. Located near the village of Patapeh Gonspan, this historical hill is registered as number 8076 on Iran's National Heritage List. With its conical, sugarloaf shape, Gonspan measures roughly 138 metres in length and 95 metres in width. Since the Karim Khan Zand Dam was filled, it has stood in the middle of the reservoir, so that today only a small part of it remains above the water.

Gonspan Hill is more than six thousand years old, and its archaeological layers include periods from the Bronze Age, the Median era, and the Parthian, Zand and Qajar periods. In the deeper layers, remains of the Yanik culture of the Bronze Age have been identified, with a thickness of 5 to 8 metres. In the Median period, a massive mud-brick building was constructed here, and its remains can still be seen in parts of the hill. Some of the surviving mud-brick walls reach a height of about five metres, which points to the grandeur and importance of this structure in Median times. In the historical and Islamic periods, Gonspan continued to hold its place, and during the Parthian, Zand and Qajar periods, buildings of stone, pisé (rammed earth) and mud brick were also constructed here. In the Zand era, a fortress was built on top of the hill, and it was later used again in the Qajar period.

Today Gonspan Hill is regarded as one of the most important ancient sites of Malayer and a valuable location for historical and archaeological research. Even though it lies within the waters of the dam, parts of it still tell the story of Iran's ancient civilizations. To reach Gonspan Hill, head northwest from the city of Malayer and follow local roads to the area of this ancient site, which lies near the village of Patapeh. It is best to visit in spring or autumn, when the mild weather makes exploring and sightseeing more enjoyable. Visitors should also observe the principles of protecting ancient monuments, which is essential for preserving this historical heritage.