The 3,000-year-old cemetery on the Marlik hilltops in Iran is to be turned into open-air archaeological museums in a bid not only to showcase the magnificence of this historical site and the style of burying the dead in a few millenniums ago but also to attract more cultural tourists.

The historical site of Marlik, first excavated in 1963, is one of the oldest and richest archaeological venues in Iran. Archaeologists’ explorations have found several unique artifacts in the 53 tombs of this burial ground, some of which such as golden chalices are internationally renowned.

 

“It is intended to turn the ancient site of Marlik to one of the biggest open museums in Iran to highlight its grandeur and attract more tourists,” said Iranian archaeologist and head of the project Reza Mostofi, adding that at least 10 of these 53 graves would be reconstructed to feature the remains of skeletons and replicas of relics found in original tombs.

The Cheragh Ali Tapeh site, more famous as Marlik, is located in Rudbar area, in the northern province of Gilan. Archaeologists have found remains of the dead as well as golden, silver and pottery vessels dating back to the first millennium B.C., indicative of those peoples’ belief in an afterlife.