3000-year-old Baby Skulls Found in Isfahan

Two babies or probably even fetuses skulls dated back to 1000BCE have been discovered in new excavations in one of Isfahan provincial archaeology sites.

While excavating Ashna Tepe (hill), part of Chadegan of Isfahan province, two skulls dating to some 3000 years ago were discovered in baskets similar to tree trunks. According to head of the Tepe excavations, Asadollah Mirza Aghajani, the delicate structure of the unique skulls is proof that they belong to babies or even fetuses.

The skulls were buried next to each other, which Mirza Aghajani believes, “shows that the babies have probably been twins.” He adds that a final identification necessitates further anthropology studies.

During the one month since excavation has started in the area, remains from the Iron Age, Bronze Age, Copper Age, and Neolithic Age have been discovered in Ashna Tepe.

Ashna Tepe is located in the middle of the deltas of Aragun (a main branch of Isfahan famous river, Zayandeh Rud) and Kam Ab Rivers. The hill is in a 20-kilometer distance of Zayandeh Rud dam, and is drowned under water which goes as far as 48 kilometers behind the dam during rainy season. The area is therefore accessible for archaeological studies only during the time when water is low.