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ROME - The Italian Archaeologist Lorenzo
Costantini who researched for many years in
Iran said on Monday that the mummy found
a month ago in Pakistan initial indications
point out to its origin as an Iranian relic,
according o a report by IRNA.
The mummy was recovered from a gang
of smugglers last month by Pakistani police
and is kept in a museum in Karachi. The origin
of the mummy is a matter of dispute and is
being investigated.
Costantini who is a professor at the
University of Naples told IRNA the discovered
mummy is that of an Iranian princess named
Rodomena' who died in the year 559 B.C. He
said the princess belonged to Achaemenian
Royal Dynasty and on her coffin the following
sentence can be read, I am the sister of Cyrus
the great, king of Iran.'' Costantini said the
sentence leaves no room for doubt that the
mummy belongs to Iran and its ancient history.
The Italian archaeologist who is in contact
with Karachi's Archaeology Office said the
coffin of the mummy is made of a kind of glass
and there are pieces of jewelry and ornaments
which were fashionable in that era. Costantin
declined to talk to IRNA reporter two weeks
ago as he was not then knowledgeable about the
issue but on Monday, after receiving
information from Karachi, said he was speaking
on the subject being fully aware of the issue.
The Italian archaeologist worked in the
southeastern regions of Iran from 1972 to
1978.
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