Organization, pathology, preservation and restoration of the Parthian terracotta coffin burial of the National Museum of Iran: Hamedan Sang-e Shir Cemetery

Qoreyshi, Mobina Sadat; Majidi Najaf Abadi, Reza; Farnam, Elham; Nokandeh, Jebrael; Dehpahlavan, Mostafa

doi:10.22034/jinm.2025.2045941.1094

Organization, pathology, preservation and restoration of the Parthian terracotta coffin burial of the National Museum of Iran: Hamedan Sang-e Shir Cemetery

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Mobina Sadat Qoreyshi ¹

Reza Majidi Najaf Abadi ²

Elham Farnam ³

Jebrael Nokandeh ⁴

Mostafa Dehpahlavan ⁵

¹ University of Tehran, Department of Archeology, Faculty of Literature and Human Sciences

² Moghadam Museum

³ University of Tehran

⁴ Research Institute of Cultural Heritage and Tourism, Tehran; Director-General, National Museum of Iran

⁵ Associate Professor, Department of Archaeology, University of Tehran.

10.22034/jinm.2025.2045941.1094

Abstract

An anthropoid ceramic coffin containing human skeletal remains was undocumented in the central repository of the National Museum of Iran, and no research had been conducted on it until now. The identity of this artifact was registered only with a few English letters on the inner wall of the coffin. The objective of this study was the organization, pathology assessment, and implementation of conservation and restoration measures for this coffin. This study elaborates on the conservation and restoration actions taken before and after the transfer of the artifact from the central repository to one of the rooms in the Ancient Iran Hall. Pathological examinations revealed that prior conservation and restoration efforts had been carried out on the skeleton and coffin, involving the use of unnecessary restorative materials. These materials, whose application was entirely unneeded, led to the concealment of the features of the ceramic coffin’s base. The results of the pathological assessment indicate that the primary damaging factors stemmed from unsuitable environmental and conservation conditions. These factors resulted in the physical and chemical degradation of the cortical and trabecular sections of the bones, particularly in the pelvic region and long bones. Additionally, cracks, micro-cracks, and fractures in the cortical bone sections, along with their disintegration, dispersion, and instability, were observed. Therefore, based on precise pathological assessments, this research aimed to implement conservation and restoration measures with meticulous accuracy. Furthermore, utilizing the knowledge of physical anthropology, the fractured and disordered bones and teeth were precisely restored and stabilized in their correct positions.

Keywords

Parthian

Hamedan

cemetery

Sange Shir

clay coffin

human bone and conservation and restoration

Subjects