Shocking Discovery! Iran’s Ancient “Salt Men” Mummies Reveal Creepy Secrets!

Deep in the arid landscapes of northwestern Iran, near the village of Hamzelou, lies the Chehrabad Salt Mine. While this site has long been known for its rich deposits of rock salt, gypsum, and clay dating back to the Miocene era (between 5 and 23 million years ago), it has gained international attention since 1993 for an entirely different reason: the discovery of mummified remains entwined with salt crystals. These ancient “salt men” have captivated scientists and historians alike, leading to the site’s protection under Iran’s Heritage Law since 2009.

The discovery of the salt men

The Chehrabad Salt Mine, located 75 kilometres northwest of the town of Zanjan, is situated atop a large salt dome, 1,350 metres above sea level. The mine’s importance to local communities dates back to ancient times, with evidence of salt mining spanning four distinct periods: the Achaemenid (6th–4th centuries BC), the Sassanian (3rd–7th centuries AD), and the Middle and Late Islamic periods (11th/12th centuries AD and 18th–20th centuries AD).

The head of the first “salt man” is on display at the National Museum of Iran.

The story of the Salt Men began in 1993, when miners at the Douzlakh salt mine near Hamzehli and Chehrabad stumbled upon a well-preserved mummified head, dating back to around 300 AD. The head was so intact that even the gold earring retained its original shine, and the hair and moustache were still recognizable. This discovery prompted authorities in Tehran to halt all mining activities and send a team of scientists to investigate. Subsequent excavations revealed more remains, including an intact foot with a leather boot and various artifacts such as iron knives, woolen garments, a silver needle, pieces of rope, a whetstone, nuts, pottery shards, and broken bone fragments.

In 2004, archaeologists unearthed another body, and over the next six years, a total of four more “salt men” were discovered, along with a significant amount of wooden tools, metal utensils, clothing, and pottery. These mummified remains date back approximately 2,200 years, to the time of the first Persian Empire, the Achaemenids. These individuals are believed to have been miners who died in a tragic mining accident.

Another mummy of the “salt man” is on display at the Zanjan Archaeological Museum.

The secrets of the salt men

With the support of the German Research Foundation (DFG), a multidisciplinary team led by the Iranian Centre for Cultural Heritage Research and Preservation carried out systematic excavations between 2010 and 2017. The team included experts from Ruhr University, the Institute for Archaeological Research and the Deutsches Bergbau-Museum Bochum. Their research provided valuable insights into the mining technologies and logistics of ancient salt extraction and confirmed at least three mining accidents in the area. To date, archaeologists have discovered the remains of at least eight individuals, each with their own unique story.

For example, the first Salt Man discovered had blood type B+ and a 3D scan of his skull revealed fractures around his eyes and other injuries that occurred before he died. There is speculation that he might have been beaten by someone and died from a severe blow to the head. His clothing, including impressive leather boots, and his gold earring suggest that he was a wealthy and high-status individual. However, the reason for his presence in the mine remains a mystery.

Since 2021, the Iranian Research Center for the Conservation of Cultural Relics has been carrying out a project to restore and reorganize the relics found in the Chehrabad Salt Mine.

The fourth Salt Man, however, was a 16-year-old boy, found crushed in a small cavern in the salt mine, his body remarkably well preserved. The fifth Salt Man was found to be suffering from parasitic worms, indicating that he consumed undercooked meat or raw food. Notably, this is the first recorded case of such a parasite in ancient Iran.

Today, five of the six salt men are on display at the Zanjan Archaeological Museum and the National Museum of Iran in Tehran. The sixth salt man remains in the mine, too fragile to be moved. Archaeologists believe that these individuals did not die simultaneously and the oldest body discovered dates back to 9550 BC. They also suspect that more mummified remains could be hidden inside the mine, as several disarticulated body parts of unidentified individuals have already been found.

The world’s fascination with the salt men

The discovery of the Salt Men in Chehrabad has sparked global scientific interest, proving that salt can preserve bodies as effectively as the desert. The weight of the salt fell on the unfortunate miners, while the salt crystals absorbed the moisture from their bodies, naturally mummifying them. Since 2021, the Iranian Center for Cultural Heritage Research and Preservation has undertaken a project to restore and catalog the artifacts found in the Chehrabad Salt Mine. Narges Afzalipur, the project leader, stressed the importance of transforming research artifacts into museum exhibits. The project includes wet and dry chemical testing, digital microscopy, mechanical cleaning, labeling, softening, dehumidifying parts, assembling and gluing components, reinforcing, packaging, and photography of the Salt Men and their belongings.

Another mummy of the “salt man” is on display at the Zanjan Archaeological Museum.

Meanwhile, a team of scientists from the University of Zurich (Switzerland) has published a detailed analysis of the Salt Men. Dr Lena Ohrstrom, a member of the Mummy and Palaeopathology Research Group at the University of Zurich, said: “The Salt Men are rare examples of individuals from ancient Persia and are, to date, the only known mummies preserved in salt in the world.”

Using X-ray images and CT scans, scientists have been able to reconstruct the faces of the Salt Men. Histological analyses carried out at the Institute of Pathology and Molecular Pathology at the University Hospital of Zurich have also allowed researchers to estimate the age of the Salt Men by examining the bone age of their hands, feet and knees, dental status and standard sex-estimation features of the pelvic bones.

The salt men of Chehrabad offer a unique insight into the lives of ancient miners and the harsh realities they faced. Their extraordinarily well-preserved bodies, along with the artefacts discovered, provide valuable information about the technologies, cultures and practices of ancient Persia. As research progresses, these ancient mummies could reveal more secrets and shed light on a fascinating chapter in human history.