Ethnoarchaeology

Understanding the descriptions of graves and historical mortuary practices is crucial for interpreting contextual information and broader social significance. This study employs an interdisciplinary approach, drawing from archaeological literature, anthropological evidence, and sociological theory to expand the range of possible interpretations. The research is based on ethnoarchaeological research on the mourning ritual of the Bakhtiari people in southwest Iran. A ritual that exemplifies memorials is embodied in monuments called Mafegeh for individuals or groups whose remains are elsewhere. The conceptual framework encompasses the theoretical and methodological aspects of comparing ethnographic and archaeological data. This framework provides a comprehensive approach to effectively analyzing and drawing connections between these two data types. Fieldwork involves conducting archaeological surveys, interviews, and direct ethnographic observations to document the Mafegeh. The study shows theoretical considerations and emphasises the reluctance to forget the dead. Nonreligious beliefs and mental states underlie many motivations of this practice. It may be that mafageh is driven by other symbolic, emotional, and practical reasons, and that has little to do with a belief in immortal souls. Such historically and culturally recurring funerary practices suggest that humans are predisposed to believe in and prepare for an afterlife. A possible reason would have been that the deceased had died elsewhere; thus, the memorial structure was erected to honour him. The research exclusively involves men, and no instances related to women were found.

The Islamic era tombstones of Shahsavar Cemetery in Izeh, southwestern Iran, reflect a rich tapestry of religious, cultural, and socio-economic values embedded in local Bakhtiari traditions. This study explores the typology and semiotics of 632 gravestones dating from the Zand, Qajar, and Pahlavi periods to the contemporary era. These gravestones, which range from simple slabs to sculpted lion figures and tiered, crenellated forms, serve as commemorative markers and visual expressions of identity, status, and belief. Utilizing a dual-method approach —historical document analysis and ethnoarchaeological fieldwork— this research categorizes the gravestones into five primary types: simple, tiered-crenellated, stone lion (bardshir), arched (mihrab-shaped), and anthropomorphic. The study reveals that the selection and design of tombstones were highly codified within the Bakhtiari tribal hierarchy, governed by symbolic traditions and cultural legitimacy. These forms also encode valor, piety, and transcendence, linking the deceased with tribal memory and spiritual continuity. The findings contribute to the broader understanding of funerary art in post-Islamic Iran.