The Graffito team of CPRI (Cultural Properties Research Institute) of Hanyang University (HYU), who was the first to research in Iran, announced on August 4, that they excavated five Paleolithic sites and 30 Iron Age sites at the Samdol Valley in Gilan State of the Caspian Sea. The CPRI at HYU was investigating cave sites in the Caspian Sea in Iran.

  The CPRI at HYU has investigated archeological study in Gilan-State for over two years from 2007 to 2008; supported by Korean Research Foundation. They have excavated lots of remains including new discovery of Paleolithic remains joining National Graffito Research Institute in Iran with Graffito Cultural Heritage and Sightseeing Country Research Institute at Gilan-State. The joint study team, which consists of CPRI at HYU and an archeologist in Iran, has confirmed remains through excavation and investigation over two times from June and July 2007 to June and July 2008.

  Bae Ki-dong, the research head of cultural assets, said, "Paleolithic remains showed the process of movement of tradition from the Middle East to the East." And he said, "It is also useful material to connect Mts. Zagros area with the middle Paleolithic culture of Altay area."

  On the other hand, CPRI, which has been excavating a prehistoric site with National Graffito Research Institute in Iran for two years, will continue its project as HYU concluded a MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) contract with Iran for archeology cooperation for the coming five years (2008 ~ 2013). Bae Ki-dong said, "We are planning on excavating the Chapael-Rock cave area and Mazada-Rock area next year."