Bioarchaeological analysis reveals distinct chronological eras and non-local origins in salt-preserved male bodies, indicating potential mine-collapse casualties and regional mobility.
We describe the finding of five male bodies from the salt mine of Chehr Abad, Zanjan province, Iran. Radiocarbon determinations suggests that two of the bodies date to the late Sassanian period, while the other three died sometime between 410 B.C. and 350 B.C. We speculate that these deaths may have been the result of an earthquake between 405–380 B.C. We have also obtained new isotopic data on skin and hair, and conclude that they may not have come from the Zanjan area. A preliminary study of stomach contents and parasite load for one of the bodies has also been carried out.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Pollard et al. (2008) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: