Ancient Bodies Found in Bam Fortification Reached 62

01 March 2005

With 62 bodies so far discovered inside the walls around the historical Bam Citadel, archaeologists are naming the burials as one of the great mysteries of the site.

During the recent months and after the number of the bodies found inside the walls reached 62, special archaeological and anthropological studies were carried out, which helped reveal secrets of these burials.

The bodies, the number of which has raised day by day, all belong to children and babies, and therefore, experts believe that the walls were once used as a cemetery for children.

Previously 49 bodies were found and newly 13 more were discovered inside the eastern and western fortifications of the citadel. The new bodies, belonging to children aging a few months to two years, are all wrapped in shrouds and remains of their skin are still visible.

These bodies brought forward one of the greatest historical mysteries of Bam Citadel, prompting new series of studies to reveal the time period of the burials. The children’s bodies were buried inside the walls during the Qajar era, when Naser-od-doleh Farman Farma, known as Firooz Mirza, beseiged Bam Citadel, Asghar Karimi, anthropologist, told CHN.

At the time, the residents of the citadel did not have the opportunity to get the children’s bodies out, and since Islam does not foresee any specific rituals for burying the underaged, children’s bodies were put inside the fortification walls, remaining there even when the siege was lifted, explained Karimi.

According to Farzad Forouzanfar, anthropologist, the preliminary studies shows that the bodies belong to children of one month to eight years old, both boys and girls.

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