Pahlavi (Middle-Persian) Spoken by Villagers in Northwestern Iran

News Category:

Anthropology

A group of Iranian archaeologists has come up with an exciting discovery, finding a village in north western Iran where there are native speakers of the Pahlavi language (middle-Persian).

They have found out that the elderly in the village of Khunin in the Zanjan province speak the Khunin Deli dialect which takes its root directly from the Pahlavi.

Preliminary studies have pointed to the existence of many underground historical buildings. Pleasant climate, fertile land and proper geographical location on the way of travelling convoys have meant various ethnic groups have chosen to reside there.

Among the discoveries made in the village are eight water mills, an underground shelter, a four hectare abandoned graveyard, a bazaar, a bath house and mosques.

They all indicate the existence of a once booming economy and measures taken to defend people of the village against invading enemies.

Archaeologists believe the village is some one thousand years old. It is about 46km from the provincial capital Zanjan.