Excavations at the Rabat Tepe site have brought to light a pre-Achaemenid shrine attributed to the Mannaean civilization. The structure is characterized by its colorful glazed bricks and intricate geometric patterns, which predate similar styles found in later Persian architecture. The central hall contains a stone pedestal likely used for ritual animal sacrifices.
The find is being hailed as one of the most significant Iron Age discoveries in the region in decades. It sheds light on the complex religious rituals and artistic sophistication of the Mannaeans, a group that inhabited northwestern Iran and significantly influenced the cultural landscape before the rise of the Medes.