Evolution and Prevalence of Cemeteries in Prehistoric Iran

The tradition of burial, so-called interment, is one of the most prominent manifestations of man›s long-standing view of death. Although this tradition has a very long history, it has witnessed many changes and ups and downs along its path till now. The study of these developments can reveal various political, social, environmental, cultural, and religious aspects of different ethnic groups. The purpose of this study is to investigate other elements of cemetery emergence in the prehistoric period of Iran and identify the factors affecting the occurrence of this phenomenon as a public space for the burial of bodies outside the sites. This research data has been collected through library studies and according to archaeological, anthropological, and sociological evidence. Data analysis shows that, firstly, in prehistoric times, at a glance, no specific factor could be considered for the emergence of cemeteries. Because the time and nature of the formation of cemeteries in regions of Iran are different and have gone through a completely different process, instead of asking a general question, the following question should be considered: what are the factors affecting the formation of cemeteries? Factors influencing the formation of cemeteries should be regarded in their context and geographical location because most of them do not offer a single perspective, and each one is created with specific meanings and goals. The findings also indicate various geographical, environmental, economic, political, and social reasons for the emergence and evolution of cemeteries.