The Chehrabad salt mine, that is called Duzlakh (Salt marsh) by locals, is known as the oldest salt mine in Iran. It is near Hamzehlou village, 70 Km away from the North-West of Zanjan where Mehrabad and Chehrabad rivers meet. This area has been habitat for humans from the Bronze era, but it became famous after excavation of the naturally mummified bodies named the salt men.

The mine workers were buried in Chehrabad mine due to the mine collapses in some historical periods. so their bodies has been naturally mummified in the salt. In 1994 the beautiful leather boot of the salt man 1, appeared which was back to 1700 years ago, related to the beginnings of Sasanids dynasty. The head, one of his feet, the boot and all his stuff are in Iran National Museum now. In 2004 excavators discovered other salt men numbered 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6 that their bodies, their clothes, tools and other stuff are in the Archeological Museum of Zanjan in Zolfaqari building now.

The salt men 3, 4 & 5 remained from 2400 years ago and Acaemenids era and the salt men 1, 2 & 6 remained from 1700 years ago at the end of Partians time and the beginning of Sasanids era.

The most perfect mummy is the salt man 4 who was a young worker about 16, including his clothes, a small ceramic jar, a fat-burner light, wool, knife and silver earrings back to 2400 years ago and Acaemenids era.

Despite the fact that there are some traditional and religious mummies like the ones in the ancient Egypt, the natural ones like the salt men are much more important. Among all naturally mummified bodies in the world, the salt men are the unique samples which can be kept and studied in the natural temperature and humidity.

The discovery of these salt men and their clothes, tools and the other stuff gave us important information about the life and mine working in ancient times. Tools such as steel hammers, fat burner lights, wool and cotton clothes, weaving technics of the textiles with herbal colors such as red, blue and yellow, sea food proteins and the other belongings, gave us accurate information about the life style in the archeological eras.

Nowadays, all the salt men except number 1 can be visited in the archeological museum of Zanjan in Zolfeqarlou building in the old part of the city in Zanjan.

You will enjoy other attractions of Zanjan on your trip to this city and province such as: Rakhtshoy-Khaneh museum, the traditional Grand bazaar of Zanjan, the handicraft bazaar, Tofiqi building, Jam-e mosque, Chalpi-Oqli historic complex, Behestan castle, Alasaqlar color mountains, Qalabar mosque, Seyd-Ebrahim tomb, Mollahhasan-Kashi tomb, Pirahmad-Zahrnoush tomb, the historic bridges of Zanjan, Qeydar-e-Nabi tomb, prince Zeydolkabir tomb, Khanoum mosque, Soltanieh dome, the Dragon historical temple (Dash-Kasan), Katalekhor cave, etc.

You will enjoy cuisines like Jaqour-Baqour, plum Aash, etc. and the handicrafts such as handmade knives, copper dishes, carpet, curtains, fancywork, scarf, rug, blanket, etc.

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