Saltmen: Textile Discoveries from the Chehrābād Mines

For centuries, salt has not only seasoned our food but also preserved history itself. Few places illustrate this better than the Chehrābād salt mines in northwestern Iran, where chance and tragedy combined to create one of archaeology’s most fascinating treasures: the Salt Men of Iran.

A Hidden World Beneath the Earth

The Chehrābād mines gained international attention when miners stumbled upon remarkably preserved human remains, now known as the “Salt Men.” These mummified bodies, dating from 400 BC to 600 AD, belonged to ancient workers who perished in mining accidents. Encased in layers of salt for nearly two millennia, their bodies along with their clothing, tools, and personal belongings survived in extraordinary condition.

For scientists, this was more than a discovery of human remains; it was an unparalleled opportunity to study ancient textiles and everyday life in Iran during the Achaemenid and Sassanid periods.

The First Wave of Research (2015–2017)

The international project Saltmen Iran – Chehrābād Salt Mummy & Salt Mine Exploration Project began in 2015. Funded by the German Research Society, it was led by Dr. Thomas Stöllner (Ruhr University Bochum/Mining Museum Bochum) and Abolfazl Aali (Zolfaghari Museum Zanjan).

Researchers from Europe traveled to Tehran and Zanjan to study six salt mummies. Using methods first developed in Austria’s Hallstatt salt mines, textile experts analyzed the weaves, dyes, and designs of the ancient fabrics. These findings provided rare insights into craftsmanship, clothing styles, and cultural exchange in antiquity.

Preserving Cultural Heritage (2018–2020)

Building on the first project, a second initiative began in 2018 with support from the Gerda Henkel Foundation: The Salt Men of Iran: The Cultural Heritage of the Salt Mummy Museum in Zanjān. This phase focused on two key goals: conserving the fragile finds and designing exhibitions to share them with the world.

Partner institutions included the German Mining Museum Bochum, the Archaeological Museum Frankfurt, the Roman-Germanic Central Museum in Mainz, the Natural History Museum Vienna, and Iranian museums in Zanjan and Tehran.

Together, the team developed advanced conservation and monitoring techniques to ensure the preservation of organic materials from leather shoes to intricate textiles. Iranian specialists also received extensive training, both in Germany and in Iran, to continue protecting the treasures in years to come.

Sharing the Story with the World

Plans for exhibitions in Zanjan, Tehran, and Germany promise to bring the Salt Men to wider audiences. These showcases will highlight not only the dramatic story of the miners but also the importance of salt as a preserver of cultural identity.

Today, the Salt Men stand as silent witnesses to Iran’s ancient past. Thanks to international collaboration, their story is being carefully pieced together one thread, one fabric, one salt crystal at a time.

Source: Naturhistorisches Museum Wien