Posted on 02/07/2008 3:08:46 PM PST by blam
Iran's salt men hazardously exposed
Thu, 07 Feb 2008 10:38:28
The company owning the right to the salt mines in which Iran's invaluable salt men lie wishes to renew its permit to continue operations.
A renewed permit issued by the mining industry will allow operations to continue for another ten years, beginning this week.
The industry is obliged to give authorization, as all conditions stipulated in the previous contracts have been met by the company.
If archaeological groups lose the fight to block this renewal, mining in even the most archaeologically sensitive areas will begin.
It is very likely these precious artifacts, dating back to the Archimedean era or even earlier, will be severely damaged or ultimately destroyed by being disturbed or removed.
As very few salt mummies have ever been found, Iran's salt men are considered extremely unique. The mystery surrounding the manner of their death also adds to the intrigue of the salt men.
When the country's third mummy was discovered buried under a boulder, one excavator concluded that a mine collapse had destroyed all the salt men.
The DNA of these remnants of the past will also be studied. According to Daniel Potts of the University of Sydney (Australia), the salt mummies could provide 'a huge amount of important data on the entire millennium between the Persian Empire and the coming of Islam'.
Along with these incredibly preserved bodies over 300 pieces of fabric have been found.
The salt appears to have kept the dyes used in the fabrics well-preserved, which calls for serious steps to be taken to rescue these fabulous remains.
They look salty.
The one on the left looks very much like Ted Turner.
The head or the boot?
For a fleeting moment, I thought this was a new picture of Helen Thomas....but then I realized what a huge make-over it would take to get her looking that good.
when did Helen Thomas go blonde?
Now you’ve done it. I have to turn off the graphics in my browser because you KNOW what will happen when H____ T_____’s name come up.
Hey, it could just as easily be a new photo of Nancy Pelosi having gone a little too far with those face-lifts and botox.
* Pelosi reminds me of that insurance commercial with Joan Rivers where she puts her hands to her face and says "Am I smiling?"
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Thanks Blam. I think we should nickname the best-preserved one, "Mort". |
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So. Now we know where the phrase, “He was the salt of the earth,” comes from.
;o]
I think the Shaker religious sect originated in Iran. /rimshot
*groan*
Maybe we should spice this up a bit.
Sorry, the need to pun is just, uh, in grained.
I’m going to approach this gingerly, if you don’t mind.
I’ll be trying to think of a response from lentil Easter.
Well don’t expect me to curry your favor...
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