Luxurious Bronze Age Grave Sheds Light on Iran’s Early Trade Routes

Date: 28 July 2025 - 21:32

News ID: ۱۴۱۹۳۹

TEHRAN -- A recent study by Dr. Ali Vahdati and his colleagues—Raffaele Biscone, Roberto Dan, and Marie-Claude Trémouille—has revealed groundbreaking insights into the Greater Khorasan Civilization (GKC) through the analysis of the richest burial ever excavated at the Tepe Chalow site.
The burial belonged to a young female, estimated to have been under 18 years old at the time of her death.
Published in the journal Iran, the research highlights the significance of Tepe Chalow in understanding the cultural horizon of eastern Iran during the Bronze Age. Dr. Vahdati explains that his initial interest in the site was sparked by the discovery of cultural materials linked to the Bactria–Margiana Archaeological Complex (BMAC). Previously thought to be limited to areas now known as Turkmenistan, northern Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan, these materials’ presence in eastern Iran underscores the expansive reach of this ancient civilization.
“This region, historically known as Greater Khorasan, was home to a vast cultural network that rivaled the great ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley,” Dr. Vahdati notes. The term “Greater Khorasan Civilization” was proposed by his team to better reflect this extensive Bronze Age cultural phenomenon.
Emerging at the end of the third millennium BCE, the GKC quickly expanded to encompass parts of modern Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, and northeastern Iran.
By the early second millennium BCE, it had established important connections with other major civilizations, including Mohenjo-daro in the Indus Valley, Mesopotamian dynasties, and coastal communities along the Persian Gulf. Archaeological evidence points to a broad trade network linking sites across Iraq, Pakistan, Iran, and the Persian Gulf.
Grave 12 at Tepe Chalow stands out among many excavated burials due to its exceptional wealth of grave goods—34 artifacts including ivory pins, gold rings and earrings, bronze tools, and intricately crafted stone objects made of chlorite, lapis lazuli, serpentine, and limestone. One notable item is a bronze pin shaped like a hand holding a 10-petaled rosette. Other unique artifacts include cosmetic containers decorated with snake and scorpion motifs and a stamped seal depicting two human feet surrounded by symbolic shapes.
Of particular importance is the presence of several seals buried with the young woman, suggesting her influential role within the community. “Seals symbolize ownership and involvement in trade networks, indicating her high social status,” says Dr. Vahdati.
Tepe Chalow’s location on a key ancient trade route—connecting eastern Iran with the Gorgan Plain and Iranian Plateau—likely positioned it as a vital hub within early trade networks that later evolved into what is known as the Silk Roads.
Despite the young age of the individual, the richness of her burial goods may reflect inherited social status. Interestingly, female burials in the GKC tend to be more richly furnished than male ones, possibly indicating that women held important roles in this civilization.
Looking ahead, Dr. Vahdati’s team plans further interdisciplinary studies, including isotopic and DNA analyses, to better understand the individuals’ diets, origins, and the cultural production techniques of the artifacts. He emphasizes the collaborative nature of this research, crediting experts in anthropology, zooarchaeology, and archaeobotany from several countries for their contributions.
“This work is expanding our understanding not only of Tepe Chalow but of the wider Greater Khorasan Civilization, shedding light on a pivotal era of Iran’s ancient heritage,” Dr. Vahdati concludes.