Below the Salt: A Study of the Human Remains and Associated Material from the Salt Mine at Chehrabad, Zanjan, Iran

盐下：对伊朗赞詹切赫拉巴德盐矿的人类遗骸和相关材料的研究

基本信息

批准号：
AH/H010998/1
负责人：
Alan Pollard
金额：
$ 54.3万
依托单位：
University of Oxford
依托单位国家：
英国
项目类别：
Research Grant
财政年份：
2010
资助国家：
英国
起止时间：
2010 至无数据
项目状态：
已结题

来源：
https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=AH%2FH010998%2F1
关键词：
Below Salt Study Human Remains

项目摘要

The salt mine at Chehr Abad, near Zanjan to the west of Tehran in Iran has provided some unique evidence for the mining of salt from at least c. 400 BC. Most strikingly, at least five human bodies have been recovered since 1993. The first one found was a well-preserved head, complete with hair and beard, associated with a boot which preserves part of the lower limb, a pair of textile shorts, three knives, a silver ear pick, a sling, a length of rope, a grindstone, a walnut, some pottery and textiles fragments, and some further bone. This body was recovered during open cast mechanical quarrying. In November 2004, mining activities were again brought to a halt by the discovery of a second body, this time largely consisting of fragmentary bones, but with some traces of soft tissue, hair and beard remaining. Subsequent controlled excavation resulted in the recovery of three further bodies, one of which was very well preserved, being fully clothed and carrying items of personal equipment. Large quantities of textile, wood and other material was also recovered, but not directly associated with the bodies.Preliminary examination and dating showed that three bodies were dated to c. 400 BC, whilst two were attributed to the Late Sassanian period (c. 400 - 600 AD). Isotopic data on body tissue and hair, however, suggested that two at least of these individuals may not have come from the region around the mine, posing an interesting question about how the mine was operated in antiquity.We propose to carry out a much fuller analysis of the human remains, to understand their state of health and nutrition at death (remembering that the unique character of these remains - undoubtedly killed by accidental crushing - means that they are very rare and reasonably well-preserved prehistoric examples of humans killed whilst fully fit and active), but also to investigate further the possibility that they may have travelled from some distance away to collect the salt. There is no archaeological evidence of habitation around the mine, and so it seems likely that exploitation was by occasional visit or seasonal activity rather than by permanent miners. In the contemporary Greek world, we know that mining was often the task of slaves. This therefore has important implications for how we view the social organization of the late Achaemenid and Sassanian period in Iran.There is ample evidence for mining activity in the form of pick marks on the walls, but also from the remains of wooden pegs, and even complete tools with wooden handles and metal picks. There are also food remains and coprolites. The excellent organic preservation provides a unique opportunity to reconstruct the activities which went on in the mine. We also have considerable amounts of textile preserved, which need to be examined to determine fibre type, weaving technology and dying technology, since such material of this age is obviously rare. From the technology and design of the textiles, we expect to obtain additional information about the origins, both geographically and socio-economically, of those who worked in the mine.We also know that there is at least one more human body to be recovered from the mine, which will be done by the Bochum team (who are seeking DFG and/or ICHTO funding for this, as well as to make a complete record of the prehistoric mining activity). We will coordinate our activities iso that the PDRA osteologist can be present during this recovery, and subsequently carry out a complete examination and sampling of the remains.

伊朗德黑兰以西赞詹附近的谢尔阿巴德盐矿提供了一些独特的证据，证明盐的开采至少距今约100年。公元前400年。最引人注目的是，自 1993 年以来，至少发现了五具人体尸体。第一具是一具保存完好的头部，头发和胡须完整，还配有一只保留了部分下肢的靴子、一条纺织短裤、三具尸体。刀、银挖耳勺、吊索、一段绳子、一块磨石、一个核桃、一些陶器和纺织品碎片，以及一些骨头。该尸体是在露天机械采石场发现的。 2004 年 11 月，由于发现了第二具尸体，采矿活动再次停止，这次主要由碎片骨头组成，但还残留着一些软组织、头发和胡须的痕迹。随后的受控挖掘又发现了三具尸体，其中一具保存完好，衣服齐全，并携带个人装备。还发现了大量纺织品、木材和其他材料，但与尸体没有直接关系。初步检查和年代测定表明，三具尸体的年代可追溯到公元 170 年。公元前 400 年，另外两个被认为是萨珊王朝晚期（约公元 400 - 600 年）。然而，关于身体组织和头发的同位素数据表明，这些人中至少有两个可能不是来自矿井周围地区，这就提出了一个关于古代矿井是如何运作的有趣问题。我们建议进行更全面的调查对人类遗骸进行分析，了解他们死亡时的健康和营养状况（请记住，这些遗骸的独特特征——无疑是因意外挤压而死亡——意味着它们是非常罕见且保存相当完好的史前人类在完全死亡的情况下被杀的例子）合身和活跃的），同时也进一步调查它们可能从很远的地方旅行来收集盐的可能性。没有考古证据表明矿井周围有人居住，因此开采似乎是通过偶尔访问或季节性活动而不是永久矿工进行的。在当代希腊世界，我们知道采矿通常是奴隶的任务。因此，这对于我们如何看待伊朗阿契美尼德王朝晚期和萨珊王朝时期的社会组织具有重要意义。墙壁上的镐痕、木钉的遗骸，甚至是木钉的遗迹，都有大量的证据表明采矿活动。带木柄和金属镐的完整工具。还有食物残渣和粪化石。出色的有机保存为重建矿井中进行的活动提供了独特的机会。我们还保存了大量的纺织品，需要对其进行检查以确定纤维类型、编织技术和染色技术，因为这个时代的这种材料显然很罕见。从纺织品的技术和设计中，我们希望获得有关矿井工作人员的地理和社会经济起源的更多信息。我们还知道，至少还有一具尸体有待挖掘。矿山，这将由波鸿团队完成（他们正在为此寻求 DFG 和/或 ICHTO 资金，以及对史前采矿活动进行完整记录）。我们将协调我们的活动，以便 PDRA 骨科医生能够在恢复期间在场，并随后对遗体进行全面检查和取样。