Analysis of the Reflection of the Ritual Behaviors of the Ahl-e-Haqq Sect on the Material Heritage Based on Archaeological Excavation, Documentaries and Ancient Anthropological Studies

One of the Islamic sects with a long history in the west region of Iran is called “Ahl-e-Haqq”. This sect has many sacred sites and elders` tombs in this region. This research has been done based on archeological excavations in the ancient site of one of the tombs of the elders of the Ahl-e-Haqq sect named Pir Mikael, as well as field anthropological studies of the region and ethnographic studies. The purpose of this study: to analyze the rituals of this sect, which are reflected as a symbol and sign in the material heritage or as a ritual behavior from the past to the present. In this research, an attempt has been made to provide evidence from the archaeological perspective of anthropology and with a descriptive-analytical approach find the relationship between this building, the genealogy of its owner, and the research findings with the sect of the Ahl-e-Haqq.The research question is: What evidence is there of a connection between this building and its owner and the Ahl-e-Haqq sect? The symbols used on the tombstones represent which of the beliefs of this secret ritual? In this regard, the discovered evidence and the findings of anthropological studies in the region and other centers of the presence of Ahl-e-Haqq in the cities of Kuhdasht and Delfan, led to the discovery of several other tombstones which became an approach to understand the connection between the beliefs and ritual behaviors of this sect with material heritage that are reflected as a symbol or sign. The results of studies showed that the religious beliefs and behaviors of the Ahl-e-Haqq sect are reflected in material heritage and some cases have appeared as a symbol. The architectural structure attributed to Pierre Michael, which has been excavated by archaeologists, was a religious building belonging to the late middle Islamic period.