CAIS
The Circle of Ancient Iranian Studies
[ Home ]
[ About CAIS ]
[ Articles ]
[ Daily News ]
[ News Archive ]
[ Announcements ]
[ CAIS Seminars ]
[ Image Library ]
[ Copyright ]
[ Disclaimer ]
[ Submission ]
[ Search ]
[ Contact Us ]
[ Links ]
|
CAIS ARCHAEOLOGICAL & CULTURAL NEWS OF IRANIAN WORLD© |
|
First Bakun Period Burial Discovered in Bolaghi Valley
|
|
27 April 2006 |
|
|
The discovered skeleton in Bolaghi Valley (Click to enlarge)
|
LONDON, (CAIS) -- The joint German-Iranian archaeological team working in the Bolaghi Valley in Fars Province has unearthed an entire skeleton of a girl beside a pottery kiln from the Bakun period (late 5th to early 4th millennium BC), the Persian service of CHN reported on Wednesday.
The
team, which has been tasked with excavating prehistoric and Achaemenid sites, is
one of several teams working on the Archaeological Rescue Excavations of the
Bolaghi Valley, a project that has been implemented to study 130 archaeological
sites before the reservoir of the Sivand Dam is filled and floods a large
section of the valley in late spring.
The
archaeologists believe that the girl lived in the Bakun period due to the shards
found near her grave but have not yet determined why she died at such a young
age.
The
team has so far excavated five pottery kilns dating back to that prehistoric
period.
“This
is the first time archaeologists have found a burial from the Bakun period in
the Bolaghi Valley,” said Mojgan Seyedin, the head of the Iranian team, adding
that the joint team has completely unearthed the skeleton.
The
body was discovered in a squatting position, with her hands placed under her
head so that she appears to be sleeping like a child, and eight stone beads were
also discovered around her hand and neck, Seyedin explained.
“We
removed earth from the skeleton and fastened it in order to preserve its style
of burial. Then we transferred it very carefully to a safe place in
Pasargadae,” she added.
According
to Seyedin, the skeleton is mostly intact despite being over 6000 years old and
even all the teeth remain.
The
archaeologists believe that there is no relationship between the pottery kiln
and the girl, despite her grave’s proximity to the kiln.
The
joint team is scheduled to continue excavations at the site until May 21.
Teams
of Italian, Polish, Japanese, and Australian archaeologists have also
participated in the rescue project.
The
Italian team, which is working near the German-Iranian team, had previously
discovered remains of a skeleton from the Iron Age.
In
May 2005, French archaeologists working in the Bolaghi Valley excavated two
skeletons which they believe date back to the Sassanid era (226–651 CE).
|
Source/Extracted From: MNA Related Article(s): Sivand in News
|
|
|
|
"History is the Light on the Path to Future" |
|
Encyclopaedia Iranica
The British Institute of Persian Studies "Persepolis Reconstructed"
The British Museum
The Royal Asiatic Society
|
