Head of the archaeological group working on Qaleh Khan (Iran), Omran Garazhian, said that four human skeletons dating back to 4,400-4,700 BCE have been unearthed in the province. He said that excavations in Maneh and Samalqan areas resulted in the discovery of these 6,000-year-old human skeletons.
     Garazhian said that two of the unearthed skeletons, which may either belong to grown up men or women, are almost complete. "Two others belonging to babies were damaged during excavation operations in 1976. Given the 80 percent damage, they can hardly be distinguished. The discovered skeletons are being examined to find out about the traditional burial ceremonies of the era, which can disclose the customs of the people of the period," he added.
     The archaeologist said that the discovered skeletons were buried beneath the floor of a residential building. "The preliminary studies show that life has been constantly flowing in the area since 6,000 BCE up to Sassanid and Ashkanid as well as in a post-Islamic period concurrent to the rule of Teimuris," he said. He added that the excavation operations in Ashkhaneh, the central town of Maneh and Samalqan in Northern Khorasan started in spring of the current year to make a documentary film of the architectural remains of Qaleh Khan. "The excavation of the area was due to be completed before summer. However, given the discovery of these ancient skeletons, the operations will continue for two more weeks," concluded the archaeologist.

Source: Islamic Republic News Agency (7 July 2006)