+"Khuzestan Iran" +1908 stock footage and images

British Engineers and Geologists strike oil at Maydan-i-Naftun in Khuzestan, Iran, in 1908.

After years of exploration, British engineers and geologists strike oil while working in Khuzestan,Iran,under the D'Arcy Concession, signed in 1901 between William Knox D'Arcy and Mozzafar al-Din Shah of Persia. After unsuccessful drilling at Mamatain and Shardin, they concentrate their final efforts, at Maydan-i-Naftun, in 1907. Views, from a mountainside, of rugged topography in foothills of the Zagros Mountains. Men and horses move up a slope. The Karun River flows at the foot of the hills. Men and pack animals appear ready to ford the river. Scene shifts to the hands of British Chief Engineer, George B. Reynolds, holding open his hand-written journal with a photograph of himself inserted between the pages. View shifts back to the rugged landscape, where a small waterfall is emptying into a pool in the river below. More views of the terrain and of camels being herded by men, moving past grazing sheep being tended by a shepherd. George B. Reynolds, is seen on horseback. In the background workers are busy setting up camp at Maydan-i-Naftun. (The overall project camp was at Masjid-i-Suleiman AKA Masjed Soleyman.) A woman draws water from an overflowing pool on a hillside,and pours it into a large desert water bag. Men dig up earth to prepare for oil drilling at Maydan-i-Naftun. Men assembling an oil derrick and commencing to drill for oil. View of the successful well being pumped at Maydan-i-Naftun. Well-dressed man checks drill before it is lowered into hole. Men and mules move up a slope and rugged hills.