IRAN Salt Men are a group of exceptionally well-preserved human remains discovered in the Chehrabad salt mine in northwestern Iran. Their discoveries occurred gradually starting in 1993, when miners during salt extraction came across the first mummified body, which had been naturally preserved due to the extremely dry and salty environment of the mine. In the following years, additional remains were discovered, at least six men in total, who lived in different historical periods of the ancient Persian Empire, from the Achaemenid to the Sasanian era.
Most of these men were likely miners who died in sudden collapses of mine tunnels. The pressure of the rock trapped them in the salt tunnels, and the salt perfectly preserved their bodies, so not only bones but also skin, hair, clothing, and personal items were preserved.
In some of the bodies, signs of injuries before death were also found, such as fractures, which suggest that they tried to survive the collapse or were struck by falling rock. Thanks to this, scientists today gain a very detailed view of the life and work of ancient miners in Persia.
The most famous is the so-called Salt Man 1, whose head and left leg are displayed in the National Museum of Iran in Tehran. These parts were selected because they are exceptionally well preserved and allow detailed study of the individual’s appearance and health condition.
The Salt Men are considered among the best-preserved human remains in the world outside Egypt. Thanks to the salt, even details such as hair, beard, clothing, or tools have been preserved, making them an extremely valuable archaeological discovery.
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saltmen
