What we've learned so far from salt mummies in #Iran , Chehrabad salt mines, Zanjan (with focus on textiles)
By 2010, remains of six men had been discovered, most of them accidentally killed by collapse of galleries where they were working
This site is super important
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We should remember these are simpler, miner clothing suited for the job. So we can't jump to simplifying Sasanian, Achaemenid... clothing to all look like this!
Achaemenid clothing: reconstruction of saltman 4's clothing including belt
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Details of Achaemenid textiles, including all needed to recreate these: both pants and tunic
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Details of Achaemenid textiles, including all needed to recreate these: both pants and tunic
Published: chapters in Ancient Textile Production from
an Interdisciplinary Perspective, 2022: ch. 18: 3D Visualization of 2400-Year-Old Garments of Salt Man 4 from Chehrābād, Iran
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Achaemenid fur cape (see above for reconstructed photos)
Achaemenid era shoes. Looking at numerous depictions, we could say this was the average footwear of most people. Of course footwear of king and royalty would have been more fancy in some ways
Sasanian-era textiles, analysis of colours, dyes, weaving for some
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Sasanian-era textiles, analysis of colours, dyes, weaving for some
I understand from one source the German team may analyze other textiles in future. We are still analyzing so many of the findings from the site! It's so cool!!
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Sasanian-era textiles, analysis of colours, dyes, weaving for some
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Sasanian-era textiles, analysis of colours, dyes, weaving for some
Textiles all the way from 20th C were also found at the site, as it was still used as a mine for centuries after Arab invasion of Iran
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Sasanian-era textiles, analysis of colours, dyes, weaving for some
Sasanian-era textiles, analysis of colours, dyes, weaving for some
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Sasanian era mittens
Mittens/gloves do not appear to have been common in ancient Iran
Textiles from Douzlakh Salt Mine at Chehr Abad, Iran: A Technical and Contextual Study of Late pre-Islamic Iranian Textiles, 2011, Hadian et al.
Analysis of dyes in textiles from the Chehrabad salt mine in Iran, 2014, Mouri et al.
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Also most recently published as chapter in book: Ancient Textile Production from an Interdisciplinary Perspective, 2022: Ch 4: Sassanid Dyes from Ancient Persia – Case Study Chehrābād in Northern Iran
Achaemenid Royal Audience Scene, inside shield of Persian soldier on so-called 'Alexander Sarcophagus'
4th C BCE, from Sidon, @ Istanbul Archaeology Museums, Photos: Fluorescent UV & Reconstruction
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An older drawing without some of the details (1);
There are parallels, precedents to #Achaemenid royal scenes in Assyrian, Elamite, other Near Eastern art. Drawing in photo 2 for example is likely of an older, Elamite seal which continued to be used in Achaemenid court
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We see examples of this royal audience scene @ Persepolis, here reconstructed from the fuller image @ Apadana, and another modern recreation @ Zinat al-Molk House
Treatment of dogs was very different in ancient Iran. They were considered beneficial, helpful animals and were to be treated well.
Photo: Persian hound or Saluki, 16th C CE
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I started this research to show Simurgh should not be called the "dog-bird". Along the way, I found ancient & modern breeds across the Near East and Central Asia regions, with a lot of continuity
For example see these Assyrian (1-3) & old Babylonian examples (@britishmuseum)
likely hounds and the last one in the last tweet being an older type of mastiff
Some references from Parthian era: we can certainly assume the colours did not change in Sasanian era, and like many other ways, the same colours were used later on as well
Ref 1: Parthian era textile with colours like purple