kayhan.ir

News ID: 55181
Publish Date : 16 July 2018 - 21:33

Mysterious Land of Lilliputians

TEHRAN (IFP)-Makhunik, also known as the land of Lilliputians, is a unique village in eastern Iran which dates back to hundreds of years ago.
Located in Doreh rural district of Sarbisheh County, South Khorasan Province, Makhunik is widely known as one of the seven strange villages in the world.
Tourists visit the village to see the dwarf residents of the region. But this is not the only feature attracting the tourists. The village is also famous for its ancient-style architecture as well as its unique customs and culture. Makhunik was established 1,500 years ago. The interesting point is that the residents of Makhunik built their houses based on architectural styles that were common in the Neolithic Era.
The residents of the village live mainly on pasturing their livestock. They also depend on agriculture to some extent. Most of their agricultural products include wheat, garlic, turnip, beetroot, carrot, tomato, onion and saffron. Some of the villagers work in a mine near Makhunik.
The most attractive feature of the village is its residents and the stories created about them. Makhunik residents are of Afghan descent and migrated to the region hundreds of years ago to establish a new life.  The tales created about the villagers are mainly based on two sources: Their short height and their homes established based on a unique architecture style.
Many reasons have been cited for it, but three of them seem to be more valid than others. Popularity of consanguineous marriages (which caused genes responsible for determining the person’s height to be passed among residents), lack of protein and vitamin in daily diet, and the mercury residues in drinking water (which was associated with nearby mines), are reasons for the alteration in physiques of residents.
It is said, however, that members of only one of the clans of Makhunik known as Gholam Mohammad- Reza Bakhsh clan suffer from short heights and the rest of the villagers enjoy normal heights. Reports say the clan members’ heights have gotten closer to the normal size through several generations after enjoying better nutrition and having intermarriages with other clan members.
Back in 2005, a mummified body measuring 25cm in length was found in the region. The discovery fuelled the belief that this remote corner of Iran, which consists of 13 villages including Makhunik, was once home to an ancient ‘City of Dwarfs’. Although experts said the mummy was actually a premature baby who died roughly 400 years ago. They also contended that previous generations of Makhunik residents were indeed shorter than usual.
Today, the residents of Makhunik have abandoned their ancient homes beginning to construct contemporary homes for living.