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Nails around Tahluj ancient skeletons puzzle archaeologists [Iran]
Tehran Times ^ | September 10, 2008 | Tehran Times Culture Desk

Posted on 09/09/2008 7:52:01 PM PDT by BlackVeil

TEHRAN -- The nails found around ancient skeletons at a newly discovered cemetery of Tahluj have puzzled the team of archaeologists working at the 3000-year-old site.

The cemetery dating back early Islamic era was discovered during the rescue excavation, which has begun at the site near the village of Mirar-Kola in northern Iran in late August.

The Tahluj site, home to several sites dating back from Iron Age to early Islamic era, will be completely submerged under water and mud when the Alborz Dam becomes operational. Tahluj is located in the Savadkuh region of Mazandaran Province.

The team has discovered ten skeletons, all belonging to children or youth. The bodies were buried with one nail beside their knees, one nail beside their left shoulders, and bunch of nails over and under their heads and feet, team director Mehdi Abedini told the Persian service of CHN on Monday.

“Nowhere else have we seen such a burial,” he noted.

“The bodies were not buried in coffins due to the close proximity of the graves,” Abedini said, adding, “Thus, the nails could not be from any coffin.”

The nails have been intentionally located at certain spots probably for an unknown ritual ceremony, which may have been common in the region during the periods, Abedini explained.

Silver spoons, bracelets, and beads made of lapis lazuli have also been found at the graves.

“The skeletons date back to the early Islamic era, however they have been buried based on the Sassanids’ burial rites,” Abedini said.

The nails were left in situ to be studied by a team of anthropologists, who will travel to the site in the forthcoming days. Thus the team has not been able to determine the material used for making the nails. However, they surmise that the nails are most likely made of Iron.

Some experts will also join the team to determine the gender of the skeletons.

The team has previously discovered three graves that date back to the Iron Age.


TOPICS: History
KEYWORDS: archaeology; godsgravesglyphs; iran
These graves would date to the era before Islam reached Persia.
1 posted on 09/09/2008 7:52:07 PM PDT by BlackVeil
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To: BlackVeil
Not just to the era, to WAY BACK in that era. Islam didn't show up until the 7th century AD. This is 40th century BC stuff.

I think the translator is off and should be fed more coffee or something.

2 posted on 09/09/2008 7:58:51 PM PDT by muawiyah
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To: BlackVeil

They were buried per an ancient occult faith, as best as I can interpret, people at this time worshiped demons.


3 posted on 09/09/2008 8:03:07 PM PDT by dila813
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To: BlackVeil

It was a prophecy that someday a great leader would arise whose name would be an anagram for “A Sharp Nail.”


4 posted on 09/09/2008 8:19:15 PM PDT by Our man in washington
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To: StayAt HomeMother; Ernest_at_the_Beach; 1ofmanyfree; 21twelve; 24Karet; 2ndDivisionVet; 31R1O; ...

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Thanks BlackVeil. This is better than the article I was going to post.

To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list.
GGG managers are SunkenCiv, StayAt HomeMother, and Ernest_at_the_Beach
 

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5 posted on 09/09/2008 11:16:55 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/_______Profile hasn't been updated since Friday, May 30, 2008)
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To: BlackVeil

“The bodies were buried with one nail beside their knees, one nail beside their left shoulders, and bunch of nails over and under their heads and feet”

For display purposes only. (This side up)


6 posted on 09/10/2008 4:02:15 AM PDT by wolfcreek (I see miles and miles of Texas....let's keep it that way.)
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To: muawiyah
I think the translator is off and should be fed more coffee or something.

Silly Christian. Islam always was and always will be. It was always everywhere, and therefore owns every square inch of the earth, all of time, and all of space.

After all “before Abraham was, I am”.

You infidels all need to die and stop polluting our universe with your very existence...

</moonworshiperbattery>

7 posted on 09/10/2008 8:13:05 AM PDT by null and void (When you bang your forehead on the ground five times a day, you get brain damage.)
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To: dila813
They were buried per an ancient occult faith, as best as I can interpret, people at this time worshiped demons.

Still do, in that part of the world.

8 posted on 09/10/2008 8:14:19 AM PDT by null and void (When you bang your forehead on the ground five times a day, you get brain damage.)
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