Parthian Burials in the Hamedan City, Western Iran

ABSTRACT The city of Hamedan in western Iran is one of the most important historical cities where various archaeological discoveries can be found in its different parts. The location of Tepe Hegmataneh in the city’s historical texture and its unbreakable bonding has made it possible for archeological activities to reveal some of the hidden aspects of Hamedan’s historical identities. At present, 14 places of Parthian burials have been unearthed from the city and its surroundings. Other than the Sang-e Shir or Stone Lion cemetery that was identified with a systematic archeological excavation, the rest was discovered accidentally during construction activities. The burials in Hamedan are of two types: those with coffins and those without a coffin. The burials lacking coffins are simple (dug in the ground) and pit, which are more related to the Stone Lion cemetery, and the coffin burials, too, are scattered in and around Hamedan. These include clay caskets in the form of a boat, humanoid and rectangular stone coffins. Most of these coffins are empty without any material remains. The graves are usually in the northeast-southwest direction, and the skeletons are laid open arched facing right, left, or straight. The grave coverings are all made of thin stone slabs.