Harat

Throughout the history, one of the concerns of human beings has been death. The death and the rituals associated with it have created enduring traditions in human societies, with each having its own unique rite based on prevailing cultural and historical characteristics. One of the important traditions related to death is burial practices with varying rituals. Different faiths and religions recommend different commands and traditions for the disposal of a deceased body, with one being burial in the ground. Burial methods, too, differ in different religions, and throughout history, various methods of burial have been performed based on the prevalent rituals and religions of the time. In Zoroastrian, due to the reverence of the four elements (water, earth, fire, and air), any direct contact with a human corpse, which is considered impure, is forbidden. Followers of the Zoroastrian faith have adopted various methods for burying their deceased, including placing them in astōdān (ossuary), towers of silence, and constructing large stone graves (dakhmas/ cairn burials). This paper introduces the cairn burials (khereft-khaneh) and an astōdān (sotōdān) that were found during the archaeological survey of Harat district of Yazd province in 2021. In the archaeological survey of Harat, various cultural and historical sites from different periods were identified. Most of the identified sites in this survey belonged to the Islamic era, but some are referred to historical period, such as cairn burials and an astōdān (ossuary), which will be discussed in this study. Based on comparative studies and similar burial methods found in central Iran, Fars, and Kerman, these sites are dated back to the historical period (Parthian/Sasanian).

Petroglyphs are a form of human artistic expression that can be found in various locations around the world, displaying similar features despite being created in different eras. This art form, commonly found in mountainous and rocky areas, is often associated with shepherds and hunters. The themes depicted in petroglyphs typically revolve around hunting scenes, weapons, goats, sheep, dogs, and other activities related to hunting and herding. However, religious motifs can also be observed in some cases. While a variety of petroglyphs can be found throughout Iran, sites in central regions such as Yazd province have received less attention from archaeologists due to the desert climate. The petroglyphs we will discuss in this article are located in the Chah Abdullah region of south Yazd province, in central Iran. In 2021, the author conducted an archaeological survey of Harat City, identifying various cultural and historical sites from different periods. While most of the sites identified were historical monuments, several historical sites, including the Chah Abdullah petroglyphs, were also discovered. Based on the type of motifs and the depth of carving, this site is associated with different historical periods. However, it is fascinating that the creation of rock motifs continues even in contemporary times.