Qaleh Kharabeh, Gorgan

Qaleh Kharabeh is an archaeological site located in the Gorgan Plain of Golestan Province, northeastern Iran. This 5th-century Sasanian fort showcases a formal, military-style layout, suggesting its use as a barracks for troops defending the nearby Great Wall of Gorgan. The fort's strategic position one mile south of the wall highlights its importance in the defense system of the Sasanian Empire's northern frontier. Archaeological surveys reveal a central crossroads, structures aligned along roads, and possible temporary enclosures for tents. Pottery findings indicate a brief period of occupation during the early history of the wall, with evidence of fish consumption from the Caspian Sea. The site's features, such as kilns for brick production, underscore its military and industrial significance in the classical era.