“Unveiling Iran’s Astonishing Salt Mummies: Perfectly Preserved from Head to Toe”
In 1993, miners at the Chehrabad Salt Mine in the Zanjaan province of Iran made a remarkable discovery—a well-preserved body. The body belonged to a man with flowing white hair and a beard, adorned with a single gold earring. Despite not appearing particularly old at first glance, carbon dating revealed that he had died in 300 A.D.
The preserved body, known as Salt Man 1, is currently on display at the National Museum of Iran. It is believed that the man met his demise due to a rock collapse in the mine, which crushed him. The dry salinity of the air effectively mummified his body. Unlike the mummification practices in ancient Egypt, where bodies were wrapped in fabric and coated with preserving oils, the salt mummy was naturally preserved.
The salt within the mine absorbed the moisture from his skin, leaving behind his desiccated remains. Due to the absence of fresh air and the layers of salt in the mines, the body remained undisturbed for centuries and was exceptionally well-preserved.
Salt Man 1 is now recognized as the first of a group of preserved bodies found in the mine, collectively referred to as the Saltmen.
Another mummy, Salt Man 3, is displayed at the Archaeology Museum in Zanjaan. Since the initial discovery, five more mummies have been found, all within the same area as the first. The second mummy was uncovered in 2004, just 50 feet away from the first. Two additional mummies were found in 2005, followed by two more in 2007, one of which was a woman.
In 2008, mining operations ceased, and the mine was designated as an archaeological site, granting researchers full access to the salt mummies.
These discoveries quickly became significant for Iranian archaeologists as they shed light on historical mining practices and natural mummification methods.
Furthermore, the finds provided new insights into the ancient individuals’ diets. Because the bodies were exceptionally well-preserved, some of their internal organs remained intact. Researchers even discovered remnants of tapeworm eggs in the stomach of the 2,200-year-old mummy, suggesting a diet high in raw or undercooked meat. This finding also presented the earliest evidence of intestinal parasites in Iran.
Alongside the bodies, the salt also preserved various artifacts found with them at the time of their deaths. Leather boots (with feet still inside), iron knives, a woolen trouser leg, a silver needle, a sling, leather rope, a grindstone, a walnut, pottery shards, and fragments of patterned textiles were recovered by the researchers.
Out of the six mummies discovered, four are currently on display. The Archaeology Museum in Zanjaan houses three male mummies and the female mummy, along with some of the artifacts. The original salt mummy’s head and left foot are displayed at the National Museum of Iran in Tehran.
Another salt mummy is exhibited at the Archaeology Museum. All the bodies are displayed in the positions they were found. The sixth salt mummy remains in the mine as it is too fragile to be removed.
Researchers believe that the Saltmen did not die simultaneously, although they share certain similarities. The first mummy found likely died around 300 A.D., while the oldest body discovered dates back to 9550 B.C.
Additionally, it is believed that there could be more mummies within the mine. While six complete bodies have been accounted for, detached body parts have also been found. Initially thought to belong to a single individual, it was later determined that they belong to different bodies.
The number of potential Saltmen bodies is now estimated to be eight or more.
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