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Atashgah Fortress (built 3rd-6th centuries)

The Atashgah Fortress dates to the era of the Sassanid Empire, which ruled Iran and other regions for nearly 400 years before being overthrown by the Muslim expansion in the mid 7th century. The monument's crowning feature is the small circular tower at the top of the hill (Maras or Marabin hill). It was likely used as a beacon tower or a military watch post, although it is locally known as the Burj-i Gurban (Tower of Sacrifice).

On the southern flank of the hill are a cluster of twenty buildings in various states of ruin. Several of them are built in the char taq (four arch) floor plan which is characteristic of Zoroastrian fire temples that were commonly found in the Sassanid empire. The fire temples, or atashgahs, housed sacred fires that were tended day and night by priests who wore a veil to prevent their breath from contaminating the sacred purity of the fire. Although the Zoroastrian state religion was supplanted by Islam in the mid 7th century, it would be several centuries more before Islam largely replaced Zoroastrianism and folk religions among the local population.