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CAIS ARCHAEOLOGICAL & CULTURAL NEWS© ARCHAEOLOGICAL & CULTURAL NEWS OF THE IRANIAN WORLD |
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A Parthian Communal-Grave Discovered in Valiran
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13 September 2006 |
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A Parthian earthenware Rhyton discovered in Valiran Picture courtesy of CHN (Click to enlarge) |
LONDON, (CAIS) -- In a recent archaeological research in historical site of Valiran (Valīrān) in Damavand, Iranian archaeologists have discovered a communal-grave with number of artefacts—which are believed to be burial gifts dating back to Parthian dynasty (248 BCE – 224 CE), according to the ISNA Persian Service.
“During the excavation in the main-grave we have discovered seven coins, belonging to Parthian dynasty, which confirms that the grave was in use for reburial for nearly 200 years”, according to Mohammad-Reza Nemati director of archaeological research in Valiran site.
“In the main-grave 21 bodies were buried, with the oldest being a 70-year-old woman, and the youngest being a 5-year-old girl”, said Nemati.
The discovered coins belonged to Mithradates the Great (123-88 BCE), Orodes I (88-80 BCE) and Artabanus II (10-38 CE).
“This type of communal grave was in use by opening the grave every time they needed to bury a person who had just died. Usually the graves have an empty space in the middle for placing the dead, which are surrounded with number of caverns in the walls. Every time, before placing a new dead in the middle to be decomposed, they were removing the previous bones of the deceased and replacing them within the caverns”, added Nemati.
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"History is the Light on the Path to Future" |
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Encyclopaedia Iranica
The British Institute of Persian Studies "Persepolis Reconstructed"
The British Museum
The Royal Asiatic Society
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