Layers of Civilizations

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Mazandaran, or Tabarestan in old Persian, was the last Persian stronghold to be conquered by the Arab armies who brought Islam to Iran. Unlike the rest of the Iranian Plateau, the residents of Mazandaran were able to defend their land from Arab invaders for centuries thanks to the natural barriers of mountains and a resilient population known for being warriors. The ancient religion of Persia "Zoroastrianism" was able to hold a majority in the region until the 12th century while the rest of Persia fell quickly to Islam in the 7th century.

Mazandaran has many beautiful sites. Within mainland Iran, this area is called "shomal" which literally translates to "north". Many Persians today consider it the most beautiful region of Iran. It's a great area for adventure seekers with lots of jungles, mountains, and of course the Caspian Sea to the north. Seafood is abundant and fresh here. Wildlife, fruit trees and famous Persian tea leaves along with rice are grown in this region.

It's no wonder that our ancestors chose this area to settle. A relatively new excavation site, Rostam Kola, located in the suburbs of Behshar, Mazandaran dating from 9,000 BC is redefining what we thought about the origins of religion and the after life. Nearly a thousand corpses have been unearthed ranging from small children to adults, with many objects buried with the deceased.

There are 7-9 different cultures from different eras represented. Each layer unearthed is a different civilazation. They built on top of each other as it seemed convenient. As one civilization died off and went into the ground, a new new one sprang up on top of it.

Our human ancestors began to produce the earliest works of art and engage in religious and spiritual behavior such as burial and rituals during this era. Items buried with the deceased include clay vases, tools made of stone and bone, and very intricate art. There are stories of gold being found in some of the jars but they have been long removed from the site. This may indicate a very early belief in the after life and has redefined our thinking about the ancient people who lived here.

Nearby there is Kamarband cave which is known for 3 human skeletons dating to approximately 9000 BC. 22 samples were found and dated. They are attributed to 8 different cultures. The 2 earliest cultures, present at around 9,900 to 7,200 years BC are most likely seal hunters. The dog bones found near the skeletons is an indication of early dog domestication.

If you're in the area, you may want to give yourself a full day for exploring both the cave and the main site. They are just beginning the excavations and every day new discoveries give us more insight into how our ancestors lived.

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