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Gorgan ( ; also written as Gorgān, Gurgān, and Gurgan), formerly Esterabad ( ; also famed as Astarābād, Asterabad, and Esterābād, which was named so until 1316 Hejri (around September 1937)), is the capital city of Golestan Province, Iran. It lies approximately to the north east of Tehran, i.e., eastern part of the Iran's north (south eastern of Caspian sea) some away from the Caspian Sea. The current name "Gorgan" ha been adopted from its Arabic name "JorJan", since Arabic long history effect on Persian language. In the 2006 census; its population in 2016 has been estimated to be around 350,000, with a 2.8 population growth rate. [edit] History
There are several archaeological sites near Gorgan, including Tureng Tepe and Shah Tepe, in which there are remains dating from the Neolithic and Chalcolithic eras. Some other important Neolithic sites in the area are Yarim Tepe, and Sange Chaxmaq. Also, the nearby Shahroud Plain has many such sites. The number of confirmed Neolithic sites on the Gorgan Plain now totals more than fifty.
Hyrcania became part of the Achaemenid Empire during the reign of Cyrus the Great (559–530 BC), its founder, or his successor Cambyses (530-522 BC). The Great Wall of Gorgan, the second biggest defensive wall in the world, was built in the Parthian and Sassanian periods. At the time of the Sassanids, "Gurgan" appeared as the name of a city, province capital, and province. Gorgan maintained its independence as a Zoroastrian state even after Persia was conquered by the Muslim Arabs in the 8th century. In 1210, the city was invaded and sacked by the army of Kingdom of Georgia under command of the brothers Mkhargrdzeli. "Old Gorgan" was destroyed during the Mongol invasion in the 13th century, and the center of the region was moved to what was called "Astarabad", which is currently called "Gorgan". Gorgan with its surrounding regions was sometimes considered as part of the Tabaristan region. Astarabad was an important political and religious city during the Qajar dynasty. [edit] Research Tips
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