Research Paper
Burial Practices in Bronze Age Gohar Tepe and Neighboring Areas: A Comparative Study
Authors: Elham Moradi, Mehdi Mortazavi & Ali Mahfrouzi
Year: 2025, Volume: 16, Page/Article: 49-76, DOI: https://doi.org/10.47509/AA.2025.v16i.5
Abstract
Archaeological evidence from the Paleolithic to the Iron Age in the south and southeast of the Caspian Sea indicates a fundamental change in the structure of life of the people in these areas during this successive period. One of the most important changes that took place in the societies of this region during the Bronze Age (urbanization) compared to the previous period is the changes in burial traditions. The burials from this period contain rich information about the social, economic and cultural structures of these communities. No studies of bronze age burials have yet been carried out in the region. Remains of graves and similar burial practices in the area also indicate cultural influences and similarities in the area. The presence of similar grave goods among the graves in this area suggests that the similar function of these objects is considered for the deceased. In this study, we have tried to use Parsons' structural-functionalist framework of thought to gain a better understanding of the level of social classes in Gohar Tepe society and analyses its social system based on the objects discovered in the burials. Other objectives of this study are burial traditions and cultural influences between the southern and southeastern Caspian Sea sites and adjacent areas. Despite the numerous problems in this study, the results indicate a similar burial tradition for the deceased in this cultural area. Comparative studies of grave goods and burial traditions also indicate cultural influence and the existence of a community with different class levels in the study areas.
Keywords: Bronze Age, Gohar Tepe, Burial Tradition, Parsons structural-functionalist