All over Iran is full of petrographic art and stone petroglyphs. Some have a global reputation and are well-known (such as Biston, Naghse Rostam, Tange Chogan, and Persepolis). But more needs to be said about some of these ancient works. The series of articles entitled “Ancient Iranian stone petroglyphs and inscriptions”, is about the lesser-known works of Iran scattered throughout our land.
At a time when man had yet not stepped into historic times and did not know how to write, he used to carve his thoughts and messages on smooth stones and rocks. Surprisingly, this prehistoric art still survives; at least on the gravestones, you can see example.
By understanding and decoding the signs, with the help of archeologists, we can open the way (though not very clear) to the times when man was in primary stages of intelligence, and depicted his surroundings by drawing on stones and rocks. He only needed a scraping stone (or a piece of animal bone) and a flat and even rock. Both of these were abundantly found in the surrounding ecosystem. Archaeologists and paleontologists, by examining those petroglyphs, understand the life of Paleolithic and Neolithic people and discover the living environment and beliefs of those people. Even in historical times, petroglyphs provide valuable materials from handwriting, literature, culture, myths, how people lived, their customs and traditions, and many other examples. These works, which should be recognized as the first document of human life, are scattered worldwide. Wherever there has been a place for the life of an intelligent person, drawings, and paintings are also seen. Sometimes these images appeared on stones, sometimes on rocks and mountains and sometimes in caves.
Petroglyphs and inscriptions of Iran
With its several thousand-year civilizations, Iran is a place for abundant rock paintings with anthropomorphic, animal, plant, and symbolic figures. The scattering of these prehistoric (and historical) pictures in the Iranian plateau shows one of the critical habitats of humans before history and ancient times. The people of the Iranian plateau have been very attached to drawing symbolic animals. In other words, more than realistic images, they gave value to mysterious shapes, which were a mixture of reality and legend. Although it is not unique to Iran, this point is worth studying since it is a reflection of how humans of this part of the world looked upon their surroundings.
Due to the abundance of rock carvings, especially petroglyphs, Iran is one of the only countries with such historical and cultural wealth. There are many petroglyphs in the north, south, west, east, and center of Iran. Archaeologists believe that more petroglyphs have yet to be discovered and known. They are carvings that have a special value in anthropological studies.
The oldest petroglyphs discovered in the plateau of Iran were found in the Lorestan Mountains and are 6,000 to 8,000 years old. Some of these petroglyphs are very old and have symbolic geometrical patterns that are of rare value in anthropological investigations and how customs and beliefs spread. For example, in Arges village in Malayer City, in Hamedan province, stone paintings with geometric patterns can be seen. In the Poshtkooh area, in Yazd province, there are many circle, cross, cruciform, and seal motifs.
The symbolic images that valley dwellers carved are also precious and full of suggestive signs. In other regions and areas of Iran, many such geometric pictures and patterns tell about ancient people’s mental world and beliefs. Especially in South Khorasan province, the number of images is surprisingly numerous. Asood petroglyphs (in Birjand), Ramangan (in Sarbisheh city), Tabas road petroglyphs, Panjeshir Hill and Anjir Valley petroglyphs (in Nehbandan city) are examples of these valuable ancient findings in S.Khorasan. In Sistan-Voblouchistan, in Nikshahr, Nahook village of Saravan city, Kajom village in Sarbaz, in Temandan village of Khash city, and other places of this province, there are so many petroglyphs that that part has been called “the cradle of Iranian petroglyphs.”
The word “petroglyph”
“Sang negareh” is Persian for the foreign word “petroglyph”. Petroglyph means “carving on a rock.” Petroglyphs are patterns that appear on smooth stones and rocks with the help of tools such as metal and rubble and by hitting and scratching. This work was done at a time when man had yet not invented the script, and in this way he spoke out his mind and about the events surrounding him. These carvings are now considered as material for investigation and research in archeology, anthropology, semiology, anthropology, mythology, decorative arts, historiography, and other scientific fields.
Petroglyphs and stone inscriptions of Iran
As mentioned, the number of petroglyphs and rock inscriptions in Iran is vast, and it will be difficult to write about each one separately. Therefore, in our series of articles under “Ancient Iranian stone carvings and inscriptions”, we will only deal with a number of them and a brief identification of those works. Ancient stone inscriptions such as Razliq, Bordemafor, Tang Khoshk, Aqrablo, Malekshahi, Tangivar, Saghandal, Ashkeft Salman, Meshgin Shahr, Kilehshin and petroglyphs: Qirokarzin, Kaljangal, Jerbat, Khongazhdar, Darehnegaran, Bizhaim, Shotor Sang, Ghar Dosheh, Teymareh, and some other examples.
