Baghdad: An Ilkhanid-era royal cemetery has been discovered in the vicinity of the Soltanieh Dome, a UNESCO World Heritage site in the northwestern Iranian city of Zanjan. Abolfazl Ali, the director of Soltanieh Site, made the announcement on Sunday evening, citing the provincial Cultural Heritage Organization that remains of an underground tomb, dating back to the Mongol era, was unearthed during an archaeological excavation in the area known as Abvab Al-Bar.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, Ali stated that based on the existing evidence and historical sources, the tomb and skeletons belong to the royal family of Mongol Ilkhans. He pointed out that the cemetery is an important part adjacent to the Soltanieh Dome, noting that some members of the royal family, including one of the wives and children of Oljaitu, the eighth Mongol Ilkhan, were buried there.

The head of the excavation and director of the Soltanieh World Heritage Site emphasized that the latest discovery could provide valuable informat
ion about history, culture, and customs during the Mongol era in the 13th and 14th centuries. He added that the burial practice and the objects accompanying the dead can also give insights into the religious beliefs and rituals of that period.

The Soltanieh Dome, noted for being the third-largest brick dome in the world, houses the Mausoleum of Ilkhan Oljaytu (Sultan Mohammad Khodabandeh). It is a testament to the accomplishment of Iranian architecture, having been built upon the order of the Sultan and designed by Fazlullah Hamedani, the Ilkhanid minister.