3,000-year-old burial of elite teen found in Iran

"The tomb of young Bronze Age woman buried with opulent grave goods including a cosmetics box decorated with snakes and scorpions has been unearthed at the Tepe Chalow archaeological site in northeast Iran. It is one of the richest graves from the Great Khorasan Civilization ever discovered. The Tepe Chalow site, which at the time of the burial was part of the Greater Khorasan Civilization, was first excavated in 2011."

"A total of 34 objects were buried with her. Twelve of them were characteristic Greater Khorasan Civilization pottery vases. Seven were stone objects made of chlorite, lapis lazuli, serpentine and limestone. There were 13 metal objects, including one gold finger ring, two gold earrings, a pair of bronze bracelets, a bronze mirror, copper/bronze pins and copper/bronze stamp seals. In addition to the metal pins were two ivory ones. Pottery vessels were placed above the head and below the feet of the deceased."

"Osteological examination found that she was about 18 years old when she died. She buried in a crouched position on her right side facing the southeast. This was the typical position found in the Tepe Charlow burials, but the contents of her grave were entirely atypical. Hers was the only one of the burials at the site to be furnished with lavish grave goods."

Tepe Chalow in northeast Iran contains at least 48 low-mound graves primarily dated to the Greater Khorasan Civilization, with some burials reaching the 4th millennium B.C. A young woman of about 18 years was buried in a crouched position on her right side facing southeast. Her grave alone contained 34 objects, including 12 pottery vases, seven stone items made of chlorite, lapis lazuli, serpentine and limestone, and 13 metal items such as a gold finger ring, gold earrings, bronze bracelets and a bronze mirror. Two ivory pins and exquisitely crafted artifacts, including a pin shaped like a hand holding a 10-petaled rosette, were also present.

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