THE NASIRA ROCK TOMB; A NEW DISCOVERY OF THE ELYMIAN BURIAL RITUAL

"Funeral rites" are among the most important and prominent archaeological evidence related to the semi-independent Elymian kingdom; this evidence represents a wide range of history, tradition, culture and civilization, as well as the political, ritual and social conditions of the Elymian kingdom (147 BC-224 AD), which was formed in the context of the Seleucid (312-247 BC) and Parthian (247 BC-224 AD) periods. The newly discovered rock tomb of Nasira was formed on the southwestern slope of a rocky hill at an altitude of about 30 meters above the valley level and the northern edge of the Shor River, in the area of the Mahour hills of Masjed Soleyman city. The entrance of this tomb is rectangular, and a projecting porch with two small side platforms in front of it reveals the unique and different architectural features of the building. The interior of the tomb is almost square and consists of four "arches" with nested niches and side platforms. The distinctive features of the newly discovered tomb of Nasira, including its relatively large dimensions compared to other tombs and crypts in the region, the different style of the interior layout, the presence of a porch, and the preservation of the original structure, have made this newly discovered tomb a unique and researchable work among the works related to the Elymian burial.