One of the saltmen discovered in the Chehrabad salt mines of Zanjan Province was inscribed on the National Heritage List following a meeting at the headquarters of Iran's Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization on Saturday.
A number of bodies were discovered in 2004 during the first phase of excavations at the site. Dating back 2,300 years, the bodies have been well-preserved due to the effects of salt and later referred to as saltmen.
The inscribed saltman was the fourth and the most intact discovered body and is now kept at Zolfaqari Museum of Zanjan.
According to Yahya Rahmati, head of the provincial office of ICHHTO, there are physical pieces of evidence that the body belongs to a 16-year-old boy who died at a salt mine following a tunnel collapse.
"His physical condition shows that he had a myocardial rupture due to the inflicted pressure on his chest after the collapse," the official said. The body is nearly intact, except for broken bones and scull. It is interesting that the 170 to 175cm tall body has his clothes on and wears silver earrings.
Treasure Trove
Reportedly, when discovered, the body had a number of antique objects with him, including a metal knife with a leather cover, two jars, ropes and pieces of clay.
The saltmen have proven to be scientific treasure troves, due to their advanced state of preservation. For instance, their beards, hair and garments have remained largely intact over time. Some still had food in their stomach.
There are currently six bodies kept at Zolfaqari Museum and Iran National Museum in Tehran.
