Archaeologists to search for Arghun Shah’s grave near Soltanieh Dome
Tehran Times Culture Desk

TEHRAN -- A team of Iranian archaeologists plans to conduct a season of excavation near the Soltanieh Dome in Zanjan to search for the grave of the Ilkhanid ruler Arghun Shah.

“We plan to carry out the excavations on the Nur tepe wherein Arghun Shah is believed to be buried,” team director Abdorreza Mohajerinejad told the Persian service of CHN on Thursday.

The mound was first excavated by the Iranian archaeologist Saeid Ganjavi about 40 years ago, he said.

He added that at the time, Ganjavi found a storied structure in which he surmised the grave of Arghun, Mohajerinejad would be found.

Due to the special architecture of the structure, the archaeologists say that it is likely the grave of an important person, he stated.

More studies need to be carried out to prove that the grave indeed belongs to Arghun, he noted.

The Fourth Mongol Ilkhan Arghun ruled in Iran from 1284 to 1291. He was the father of Mahmud Ghazan.

Soltanieh, the mausoleum of Oljaitu, was constructed from 1302 to 1312 in the city of Soltanieh, the capital of the Ilkhanid dynasty, which was founded by the Mongols.

The Soltanieh Dome is one of many Iranian monuments registered on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

   Print Version     |        Back    |     Send To Friend