Qadamgah (ancient site)

Qadamgah is an ancient Achaemenid rock-cut monument located southeast of the Kuh-e Rahmat mountain in Fars Province, Iran. The site is approximately 40 km south of Persepolis and features a series of three vertically superimposed platforms cut into limestone, with staircases connecting the terraces. Although initially speculated to be an unfinished tomb, recent research suggests a religious function associated with water worship, supported by the presence of a now-dry spring and pool. The structure also includes shallow cavities and hemispherical holes likely used in rituals. As one of the few known Achaemenid cultic sites dedicated to water, Qadamgah offers unique insight into the spiritual practices of the period. The structure dates back to the Achaemenid Empire, primarily during the Middle to Late Iron Age, around the 6th to 5th centuries BCE.