Oil drilling operations led to the discovery of a cemetery from the Parthian period in a area in Ahvaz called Kourosh, and on the back bank of Karoon River in Ahvaz.
According to ILNA, Hossein Feyzi, a PhD. student in archeology from Mazandaran University, announced the discovery of the new cemetery and said: Oil drilling operations on Tuesday, Tir 14, 1401, in Ahvaz city, led to the discovery of a newly discovered historical cemetery with archaeological data in Ahvaz city. This newly found cemetery is located in Phase 4 street, in Kourosh area, nearly 150 meters from Karun beach.
Feyzi pointed out: “Examples of this type of burial can be traced to cemeteries of Parthian Acropolis, Kangavar (Kambakhsh Fard: 1374), Garmi Moghan (Kambakhsh Fard: 1346), Shoghab Bushehr (Mehdi Rahbar). A suitable chronology can be provided by comparing the data of the new cemetery of Koroush Ahvaz and other cemeteries.”
He said: “These tombs can be compared and matched with the graves of shoghab, Bushehr area. Some researchers believe these tombs to be from the late Parthian period and early Sassanid period. A critical point about the tombs of the Koroush cemetery in Ahvaz is that they are buried next to the river and towards the river. This type of burials facing the river can be seen in other examples of the Parthian period. In Garmi Moghan cemetery, graves face the river.”
According to this archeologist, the fact that this type of burial is towards the river in the Kourosh cemetery of Ahvaz strengthens the assumption that this cemetery and its burial methods are a remnant of the Mehri faith and Mehri burials. Also, Mohammadifar, in his book Art and Archeology of Parthians, expresses his opinion about pot burials as follows: “Khomreh (pot) cemeteries are more in line with the methods of Mehr worship (52:1397)”. Another unique feature of the newly found cemetery is the period of this cemetery, which is the Parthian period.
According to Feyzi, most researchers believe southern Khuzestan and the city of Ahvaz of the pre-Sassanid era (late antiquity) to have been without permanent settlers. But, the newly found cemetery in Kourosh area of Ahvaz clearly indicates permanent settlement at the end of the Parthian period, in the current area where Ahvaz city exists. This cemetery, along with the Asieh Abad Hill and the burial data of the Kouhsaran Hills (source of water), all indicatedthe existence of a permanent settlement in Ahvaz from the Parthian period until now in the area of Ahvaz.
Cultural heritage activist, Mojtaba Gahestani, also gave some explanation to ILNA about the discovery of the Parthian cemetery: “In 1385 (2006) when the issue of Hormoz Ardeshir was raised, we noticed the existence of ancient relics in several places in Ahvaz, for example, in Zargan, where an ancient area was identified, and clay tombs and pit-tombs were discovered, the area was investigated and its boundaries were verified. Some years later, in the Newside area of Ahvaz, in the an area where the “Green-Area Departments and national Oil company are located, remain of burials were found, the National Heritage Department was informed duly and investigations took place. However, after numerous documentaries, the area was covered, and the investigations did not continue.
He continued: “After that, an area was found in the same place, behind the site, which was investigated for cultural heritage but was never excavated. The ancient site of Kohsaran was also identified in the 1390 solar year, but it was nationally registered after a decade. This trend worries cultural heritage activists about the condition of ancient sites. Now, a newly discovered ancient site has been identified in the area of the oil company’s operations, and there is a concern that this area will not be explored. This area should be studied, recovered, conserved and registered nationally.
