Iran Russia to date Izeh skeletons

Iranian and Russian archeologists are to date skeletal remains found in a tomb at the historical site of Izeh in Khuzestan Province. 

The 3000-year-old skeletons, which were found in 2006 before the area was flooded by the Karoon III dam, will undergo physical anthropology testing.

“Experts believe the skeletons most probably belong to the native inhabitants of the area; therefore physical anthropology studies will help identify their modern decedents who live in the region today,” said director of Ayapir Research Center, Ja’far Mehrkian.
Scientists will also conduct studies to find out the diet used by the ancient inhabitants of the region.

“Russian experts will conduct Paleontology studies [study of prehistoric life] to get information on the evolution of ancient humans and their interaction with one another and their environment,” said Mehrkian.

Previous excavations had yielded skeletal remains of animals such as pigs, donkeys, gazelles, bulls, goats and ewes. Iranian archeologists had also found that acorn was one of the main food sources of the ancient inhabitants of the area.

The Iranian-Russian team will also reconstruct the faces of the skeletons to create a more tangible standard for identifying the decedents of the ancient people living in the region.

Located in the middle of the Zagros mountain range and originally called Ayapir, Izeh is famous for its large number of bas-reliefs.

TE/HGH