Ruins of a Zoroastrian fire temple in western Iran.

A joint Iranian-Polish team has started excavations at the site of the Azar Barzin Mehr fire temple in Sabzevar, northeastern Iran.

Iran’s Archeology Research Center and a team from Warsaw University are studying the temple, a quadric-arch.

Archeologists will work to figure out the plan and elevations of the building as well as the cultural elements of the area.

Early studies led to the discovery of a dual-purpose space built in the heights near the temple and used as an ablution room.

The group is also studying the firebox and the main hall, in which worshippers circumambulated the sacred fire.

Azar-Barzin Mehr is one of the three important Zoroastrian fire temples belonging to the Sassanid era and was used by farmers and villagers.

Zoroastrianism is the religion ascribed to the ancient Persian prophet, Zarathushtra (Zoroaster), who lived 3500 years ago.