A Large Ancient Cemetery Found in Northern Iran

News Category:

Prehistory

An Iranian archaeologist has discovered a vast 400 hectare cemetery in northern Iran which is believed to be over 3000 years old.

Mohammad Reza Khalatbari said when one discovers such an ancient cemetery, it is as though he has pushed the time back to that point. "And what enjoyment can surpass this?" he said.

The 53 year old archaeologist started his work some 25 years ago in Weskeh, near Talesh in the Gilan province in 1991. "We found relics from the Parthian period in early excavations," he noted. His later efforts led to the discovery of a large cemetery some 400 hectares in area, lying among mountains.

He believes the Cadusis were the main inhabitants of the area. Yet, no architectural work of the time has been found. Khalatbari is on the belief that that's because people would use wood as the main construction material.

"And wood is highly degradable," he stressed. Since these people believed in the life after death, he remarked, they buried tools and ornaments with their dead.