Death, the Underworld, and Burial: Continuity of the Enduring Tradition of Crypt Tombs in Iran Based on the Recent Excavation of the Khahar-e-Emam Mausoleum in Rasht

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

Department of Archaeology, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

10.22111/ijas.2026.53064.1365

Abstract

Burial in crypts is a long-standing and widespread mortuary practice, evidenced across various civilisations. Early examples include the royal tombs of Ur (Mesopotamia), Saqqara (Egypt), and Iranian sites such as the Middle Elamite “Palace of the Dead” at Chogha Zanbil and the tomb of Tepti-Ahar, revealing early human engagement with subterranean burial. These burials reflect not only social hierarchies but also conceptions of life after death, sanctity, and protection. The tradition continued through the Islamic period in Iran, where crypts were often incorporated beneath monumental mausoleums, as seen in the Alaviyan Dome, Soltaniyeh, and structures from the Seljuk and Ilkhanid periods. Although the origins of Islamic mausoleums are debated, the practice of subterranean burial showcases both pre-Islamic Iranian traditions and regional Islamic innovations. Recent archaeological excavation at the Khahar-e-Emam mausoleum in Rasht provides new evidence of this continuity. The main objective of this paper is to trace the continuity of the subterranean burial tradition (Crypt tomb) in Iran up until the Qajar period. The authors, through archaeological excavations at the Khahar-e-Emam site in Rasht, aim to demonstrate how this particular burial tradition has persisted over time and to highlight the enduring cultural and religious significance of subterranean interment. Methodologically, this article relies primarily on fieldwork conducted at the Khahar-e-Emam site in Rasht, supplemented by additional data collected from text resources, field experience, and interviews.

Keywords

Iranian Journal of Archaeological Studies

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 20 December 2026

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