Ata Hassanpour, the head of the archeological group excavating the area, said that Mersin Chal cemetery in Mehdishahr County, Semnan was so vast to explore that two archeological groups were dispatched.
He said that they have managed to dig three 10m in 10m trenches, spanning a total 300 square meters area of the cemetery.
The graves in this cemetery are trenches dug by hand without tomb structure which are characterized by two pieces of stone in the top and bottom sides of the tomb, according to Hassanpour.
He also said that there were a considerable amount of grave goods in the cemetery, most of which are precious ones.
Among the grave goods, a unique clay rhyton was discovered which was formed in the shape of a wild goat head with toothed horns. The rhyton dates back to 2,200 years ago during the Parthian Empire, the archeologist noted.
Rhytons are roughly conical containers from which fluids were intended to be drunk or to be poured. They were typically formed in the shape of animal heads.
Hassanpour said that many other objects were discovered in the cemetery, including different types of clay containers, bronze and iron objects and decorative stone beads.
He added that the archeological group has discovered over 40 ancient objects from 5 graves excavated so far, as the third excavation season has reached halfway.
Mersin cemetery has been located near the ancient Qumis province, a one-time Parthian capital.
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