www.chnpress.com: Development activities of Ramhormoz Water and Sewage Department, Khuzestan province, led into accidentally discovery of two historical coffins containing some 500 pieces of invaluable gold ornamentations and artifacts belonging to different historical periods including: Elamite (3400-550 BC),Achaemenid (550-330 BC), Parthian (248 C- 224 AD) as well as Mesopotamia civilization in two coffins. Discovery of this unique treasury has faced archeologists 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 Guran, Jarali Tepes, and especially Jamshidi Tepe 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 CHN: “This invaluable collection is containing of a large number of historical relics dating back to Neo Elamite, Parthian, Achaemenid 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.”
One of the most interesting artifacts discovered in this treasury is the five rings of power. Archeologists are in search for discovering to whom this five power ring belonged. important questions in this regard is that who is the owner of five rings found among these objects.
According to Peymani, this five power ring is very similar to that belonged to Kidin Khutran, Elamite king (1235-1210 BC) whose coffin was discovered in 1982 in the ruins of Elamite city of Arjan, located 10 kilometers distance of the city of Behbahan in Khuzestan province. “Now the question is that whom did this five power ring 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 archeologists.”
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 (17 and 18 centuries BC), similar to which exists in one of the museums of England are the other artifacts discovered in these coffins.
Statue of fish goddess with 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 BC) which have attracted the attention of archeologists. 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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