Iranian Zoroastrians: Custodians of the Sasanian Silk Road Heritage to the Present:Iranian Zoroastrians & the Sasanian Silk Road

This study examines the material and intangible heritage of Iranian Zoroastrians in Khorasan and Tabaristan from the Sasanian period to the present, with a particular focus on their connection to the Silk Road. It investigates the timing and patterns of Zoroastrian migration and how they preserved Sasanian Silk Road heritage through silk production, related occupations, dialects, historical architecture, and ritual practices. Data was collected through fieldwork, document analysis, specialized silk terminology, and direct interaction with the community. The findings indicate that Zoroastrian migration from Khorasan and Tabaristan occurred at different times due to distinct historical and geographical factors; natural barriers in Tabaristan delayed migration, whereas Khorasan came under Muslim rule earlier. The celebration of Tirgan, the variation of the Dari Behdini dialects in Yazd and Kerman, and the naming of settlements further aid in tracing the origins of migrant communities. This study demonstrates that Zoroastrians not only preserved silk-related traditions but also safeguarded the tangible and intangible heritage of the Silk Road, as evidenced by the spatial relationship between bazaars and dakhmas, archaeological findings, the use of Farr by Zoroastrian silk merchants, and Zoroastrian dress codes—such as the wearing of the Maknā, even in funerary rituals.Keywords: Sasanian Silk Road, silk-related professions, Khorasan and Tabaristan, Yazd and Kerman, Iranian Zoroastrians