Tehran, July 20 (ANI): The Persian Gulf was once dry, say experts, who concluded that the first Persians must have made their way to the land, now known as Iran, on foot.

Scholars in UK’’s Durham University conference have focussed on the key role the vital waterway has played in the development of human settlements in the region from the pre-historic to the present.

According to the PressTV reports, experts from various nations made an in-depth probe into the regions seafaring developments, the nature of commodities being traded within the Persian Gulf and the techniques used to identify them.

And they found that the Persians battled the waves of the Persian Gulf more than 5,000 years ago.

In fact, they established that the waterway was once dry and the first Persians must have come to Iran on foot, reports The Iran News.

They also highlighted the importance of Siraf; a legendary ancient port located on the north shore of what is now the Iranian coast on the Persian Gulf.

Siraf dates back to the 4th century and was used as a boat route between the Arabian Peninsula, India and later, China.

Earlier, archaeological excavations found that Siraf has yielded ivory objects from east Africa, pieces of stone from India, and lapis from Afghanistan. Siraf dates back to the Parthian era.

Hamid Baghaee, deputy head of Iran Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization (ICHTO), believes the Persian Gulf not only performed a historically vital role, it had global significance in linking the East and the West and should be added to the UNESCO list of Cultural Heritage. (ANI)