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.CAIS NEWS© ARCHAEOLOGICAL & CULTURAL NEWS OF THE IRANIAN WORLD |
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Recent Discovery of Ramhormoz Treasures to Go on Public Display
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09 May 2007 |
LONDON, (CAIS) -- Development activities of Ramhormoz Water and Sewage Department, Khuzestan province, led into accidental discovery of two historical coffins containing some 500 pieces of invaluable gold ornamentations and artifacts belonging to Elamite period (3400-550 BCE), Achaemenid (550-330 BCE) and Parthian (248 BCE- 224 CE) dynastic periods, as well as Mesopotamian artefacts in two coffins.
Discovery
of this unique treasury has faced archaeologists with a large number of unknown
questions including the ownership of these items. Remains of four earthenware
jars have been also discovered along these coffins.
The
two U-shape coffins were placed inside a cubbyhole with their handles clinched
to the body of the coffins. The tomb was constructed by rubble stones, nothing
has remained from which. Activities of bulldozers have caused serious damages to
the discovered coffins as well.
Construction
of such tombs in mountainous areas was usual during the ancient times and those
previously discovered in Gurān, Jarāli Tappehes, and especially Jamshidi
Tappeh have the same specifications.
Pointing
that more studies is required to clarify the exact age of these historical
relics, Abdul-Reza Peymani, archeologist of Cultural Heritage and Tourism
Department of Khuzestan province told Persian service of CHN: “This invaluable
collection is containing of a large number of historical relics dating back to
Neo-Elamite, Achaemenid and Parthian dynastic eras as well as Mesopotamia
civilization. There are also some objects which have never be seen before in any
historic site and we do not know about their antiquity.”
According
to Peymani, these five rings of power are very similar to that belonged to Kidin
Khutrān, Elamite king (1235-1210 BCE) whose coffin was discovered in 1982 in
the ruins of city of Arjan, located 10 kilometres distance of the city of Behbahān
in Khuzestan province. “Now the question is that whom did this five
ringS belonged to and whether it belonged to one person or more,” added
Peymani.
He
further said: “Existence of some objects belonging to Mesopotamia civilization
in this treasury has brought the whole case in a state of ambiguity for
archaeologists.”
Golden
bangle with plants designs probably decorated by precious stones, two golden
bracelets with head of deer at their end decorated with precious stones with
plant designs, several simple golden bracelets with cuneiform inscription, rings
known as power rings that one of them engraved with cuneiform language belonging
to Neo Elamite, golden short cane, 155 golden buttons in small and big sizes are
among the other discoveries in these two coffins. Discovery of these buttons
which are very unique would be very helpful for identifying the methods which
were practiced for sewing decorative cloths during ancient times. Like those
found in Arjan, these buttons have convex layer.
In
addition 23 golden pendants of necklace in different sizes, 3 marble vessels,
earthenware and bronze dishes, a number of bronze bracelets, metal tripods which
were probably used as candlesticks, broken statue of a goddess, and a fish-like
goddess ornament dating back to Sukkal Mah (17th and 18th
centuries BCE).
Statue
of goddess with fish body and opened arms resembles a woman wearing a frilly
skirt like Elamite landlords. Its fish like body is in horizontal form and has
angle with its body and was installed on the top of the armrest.
Among
the discovered objects, there are two statues belonging to Sukkal Mah dynasty
(1900 -1500 BCE) which have attracted the attention of archaeologists. From
historical point of view the antiquity of these statues are much older than the
other objects.
According to Sadegh Mohammadi, head of Cultural Heritage and Tourism Department of Khuzestan province, this invaluable collection would be put on public display within two months.
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Extracted From/Source*: Cultural Heritage News Agency (CHN)
*Please
note
the above-news is NOT a "copy & paste" version from
the mentioned-source. The news/article above has been modified with
the following interventions by CAIS:
Spelling corrections; -Rectification and correction of
the historical facts and data; - Providing additional historical
information within the text; -Removing
any unnecessary, irrelevant & repetitive information.
All these measures have been taken in order to ensure that the published news provided by CAIS is coherent, transparent, accurate and suitable for academics and cultural enthusiasts who visit the CAIS website.
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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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