With discovery of more human skulls in different shapes in the historic cemetery of Gandab in Semnan, archeologists have concluded that most probably Semnan plain was inhabited by different ethnic groups some 3000 years ago.
Some of the discovered skulls were extensively elongated and some were stretched out a bit more than usual, while a number of ordinary and round skulls were also discovered in this Iron Age cemetery.
"Archeologists started the third season of excavations in Gandab seeking to identify different methods of burial as well as determining the extent of this historical cemetery. Archeological studies revealed that the area of Gandab cemetery is much bigger than previously thought; therefore, we dug several trenches in different parts of the cemetery and succeeded in discovering diffident burial methods," said Farzad Foruzanfar, archeologist and director of anthropology department of Iran's Archeology Research Center to CHN.
Forouzanfar also said that the new findings completely changed the previous theories regarding homogeneity of Gandab cemetery as various burial methods including supine and foetal burial as well as skeletons with various skull forms were observed in this cemetery.
Gandab is an archeological cemetery dating back to the second to third Iron Age. It is located 3 kilometers from the Iron Age cemetery of Kharand and 50 kilometers from the city of Semnan. Archeological evidence shows that different ethnic groups with different traditions inhabited this area some 3000 years ago.
Commenting on the ethnic diversity seen in this 3000-year-old historic site, Forouzanfar explained: "Most often human races can be told apart by the shapes of their skulls. This is why different hominid races are often categorized by this factor. Out of all the known forms of human skulls, four have been observed in Gandab which are among the most well-known types in anthropology."
According to this archeologist, aside from normal and round skulls, highly elongated and medium long skulls were also found in this historic cemetery. He also pointed out that discovery of evidence of humans with different ethnic backgrounds from about the same period all in a single cemetery is one of the rare cases in archeological and anthropological studies. This is why Gandab historical cemetery is considered unique among all the other archeological sites of Iran.
Among other discoveries by archeologists during this season of excavations were remains of architectural constructions belonging to the first millennium BC which were found close to Gandab cemetery.
Regarding the objectives set for this stage of archeological excavations in Gandab historical site, Forouzanfar said that among the most important questions archeologists are hoping to find answers to during this season of excavations in Gandab are: the extent of Gandab cemetery, age of human existence in this historical site, cultural relations between Gandab and the nearby historic cemetery of Kharand as well as finding out which one was more flourished during the ancient times, and finally classifying different ethnic groups and tribes who lived in this area during the first millennium BC and whether or not their number changed over time.
Some 156 skeletons were discovered during previous seasons of excavations in this area. Discovery of a village belonging to the pre-Achaemenid period - that is prior to 550 BC - in Gandab was another important accomplishment by archeologists.
(Original headline: Archeologists: Different Types of Human Skulls Discovered in Iran's Semnan )
