Tehran, 20 January 2007 (CHN Foreign Desk) -- Latest season of archeological excavations which recently came to an end at the historic Valiran cemetery is anticipated to open new windows to the Parthian dynastic period (248 BC–AD 224).

 

According Mohammad-Reza Nemati, head of the excavation team at Valiran Cemetery, evidence of this historic period are not seen commonly in present-day Iran. “Our information about the Parthian period is mainly limited to results of archeological studies at Jazmourian, Zahak Castle, Khajeh Mountain, and a few other places,” added Nemati.

 

A Parthian communal grave, several coins and other artifacts believed to have been burial gifts, fragments of human skeletons, some rhytons (goblets designed with the head of an animal on the bottom) and amphorae (a type of ceramic vase with two handles and a long narrow neck), all dating back to Parthian dynasty were discovered during initial emergency excavations at Valiran.

 

“Considering the four different burial methods including jar burial, loculus (a slot-like burial niche), stone-paved and surface burials observed at Valiran Cemetery and also seven coins belonging to Parthian kings Mithradates the Great (123-88 BC), Orodes I (88-80 BC) and Artabanus II (10-38 AD), this cemetery is dated to early Parthian era,” explained Nemati.

 

The most prominent discovery at Valiran, according to Nemati, was that of a communal grave in which 21 human skeletons were found along with a number of burial offerings. “This grave is 60 centimeters wide and 1.60 meters deep. The main part of the grave measures 60x160 centimeters in dimension and is divided by clay walls. Three rhytons with ibex heads and seven coins belonging to Parthian kings were found along other objects in this grave,” added Nemati.

 

Objects made of silver, bronze, and iron including rings, bracelets, arrowheads, arrows, different kinds of knives, earrings, belt buckle, nails and needles as well as different kinds of vessels were also unearthed from this grave.

 

This type of communal grave was in use for continual reburial for 25 to 30 years. Usually the graves had an empty space in the middle for placing the dead, which were surrounded with a number of caverns in the walls. Every time before placing a new dead in the middle to be decomposed, the previous bones of the deceased were removed and replaced within the caverns.

 

In addition to the Parthian remains, evidence from Sassanid dynastic era (224-651 AD) such as remains of an architectural style were also found in this ancient site. “Eight silver coins belonging to the Sassanid dynastic period, from which three belonged to Khosrow Parviz, together with three pieces of clay tablets in Sassanid-Pahlavid script, and a number of gemstones made of agate, glass and tar were discovered at Valiran,” said team director, Nemati.

 

The historic cemetery of Valiran was discovered recently during the construction of a new branch for Elm-o Sanaat (Science and Technology) University in the city of Damavand in Tehran province.

 

 

To view images of some discoveries in Valiran Village, click here 

 

 

Maryam Tabeshian

foreigndesk@chn.ir