An Iranian family living in the southern city of Kazeroon has inadvertently turned a rare Sasanid column-like inscription into a pot to plant flowers.

This kind of hollow tablet, named tomb inscription, was generally used as an upright tombstone or an urn to keep the remains of the dead. The family did not have the slightest idea that the makeshift vase is invaluably centuries-old, until an archaeologist stumbled upon it and took some photos to hand over to Dr. Zhaleh Amoozgar, expert on ancient Persian languages.

She decided the inscription featured 14 lines in Pahlavi script but unfortunately some lines have been erased out, though it was readable enough to learn that it was written on the orders of a man named Mahan for his deceased wife, Anahid Pirooz.

Ironically, after the discovery of the inscription, the unknown family has clandestinely moved to another place, taking the tablet as well.