Parthian-Era Necropolis With 1,800 Ancient Graves Discovered in Yazd

Date: 12 July 2025 - 21:44

News ID: ۱۴۱۳۲۶

TEHRAN -- A team of Iranian archaeologists has recently completed an intensive one-month survey and excavation at the Gure Kaferi site near Kooyjan village, Bahabad County, Yazd Province, revealing an extraordinary ancient necropolis comprising 1,793 graves spread over nearly 1,000 hectares.
The site, identified as a unique archaeological complex, is believed to date back to the Parthian period (247 BCE–224 CE), providing invaluable insights into Iran’s ancient cultural heritage.
However, the vast majority—over 90%—of the graves have suffered extensive damage due to illegal excavations that have continued unabated for more than four decades.
Despite numerous appeals from local heritage advocates and authorities, Gur-e Kaferi remains unregistered on Iran’s national heritage list, exacerbating its vulnerability to further destruction.
The project, financially supported by the Bahabad Municipality and authorized by Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts, and Tourism Research Institute, was led by Muhammad Hussein Azizi Kharanaqi, a senior researcher and deputy director at the Archaeological Research Center.
Fieldwork proceeded without interruption during a tense 12-day aggression period, demonstrating the team’s dedication to safeguarding Iran’s heritage.
Azizi Kharanaqi emphasized the relative neglect of Yazd Province in archaeological research compared to other regions, despite its rich historical fabric.
“Yazd is one of Iran’s least studied provinces archaeologically, overshadowed by its architectural monuments, which draw the majority of scholarly attention. This lack of comprehensive research has left significant gaps in our understanding of the region’s cultural and historical development,” he stated.
The Bahabad area, situated at an elevation of approximately 1,400 meters, enjoys a moderate climate that historically supported agriculture, mining, and pastoralism—activities reflected in the lives of the ancient communities buried at Gur-e Kaferi.
Excavations revealed shallow graves containing limited funerary objects such as pottery vessels, bronze bracelets, rings, and stone or glass beads. Unfortunately, due to soil conditions and water infiltration, skeletal remains were highly degraded, with only fragmented long bone fragments recovered.
Preliminary analysis assigns the necropolis to a community of ordinary Parthian-era inhabitants, though further studies may refine this chronology. The research team’s next priority is to compile a comprehensive heritage registration dossier to protect Gur-e Kaferi under national law.