Bioarchaeological Studies and Strontium Isotopes Analysis on Human Remains from Historical Period from the Site of Shahr-i Qumis, Semnan Province

The ancient city of Shahr-i Qumis is situated on the southern slope of the Alborz mountain range, approximately five kilometres southeast of Qusheh village in Damghan city, Semnan province. Numerous attempts to locate the ancient city of Hecatompylos, the second capital of Parthians, had been made since the mid-19th century until the site was finally discovered in 1966 by John Hansman. Subsequently, Hansman and David Stronach conducted excavations in four seasons from 1967 to 1978 in order to substantiate their claim. Unfortunately, limited published reports and articles were produced from these seasons and the findings of these excavations, which are presently kept in the repository of the British Institute of Persian Studies, were not adequately protected. As a result, the findings required revisiting, which was carried out during the fall and winter of 2017-18. The excavation findings included human bone remains, which were a significant part of the discovery. These remains were measured and examined, and bone samples were collected for radiocarbon 14 and stable strontium isotopes analyses. The results indicated that most of the burials in the abandoned buildings of the early Parthian period of this site were probably from the middle Parthian to the late Sasanian period. These burials were most likely performed by local residents of the area, who were permanent inhabitants of the site. The fact that most people living in the area during the time period in question were locals suggests that they did not migrate during their lifetime and consumed food products that were produced in the area. The burial method of these people was of the secondary type and was accompanied by the bones of a wide range of animals and sometimes the post-mortem damage of human and animal bones. This type of burial is rare and somewhat similar to the burial rites of the Late Bronze and Early Iron Age sites in the Fergana Valley and Chust culture in Central Asia. Overall, the site of Shahr-i Qumis is an important archaeological site that sheds light on the ancient history of Parthian culture. However, the limited published reports and inadequate protection of the excavation findings underscore the importance of revisiting such sites periodically to ensure that their archaeological significance is fully understood and preserved for future generations.