A Research on the Recognition of Implication & Motifs of Gooran Tribal Gravestones in West Islamabad (Ex-Shah Abad1) City

Located in the Western part of Iran, Kermanshah is one of the most important provinces of the country from archaeological and historical perspective. In a number of cities of Kermanshah including West Islamabad, Sar-e Pol-e Zahab and West Kerend, remaining of gravestones have been found that represent the same culture belonging to Gooran tribe in these areas. These gravestones are remarkable in that they depict different motifs including images of human beings, animals and plants as well as equipment and tools; all of which reflect the culture and worldview of the people of this region. The motifs of Kermanshah’s Gooran tribe historic gravestones reflect the social and personal standing of the deceased both in the tribal and rural society of his time. Furthermore, there is a direct correlation between the good characteristics of the departed and the gravestones’ motifs and symbols which the survivors used as a reminder of such features. This research has been conducted through both field study and the use of written sources (comparison with the gravestones in other regions). In this article, efforts have been made to provide an introduction on the abovementioned sites, review and study the gravestones’ motifs, and make a concise comparison with other similar gravestones and contemporary cemeteries in Abdanan city in Ilam, Dar al-Salaam cemetery in Fars province as well as Kuhdasht cemetery in Lorestan province.  In this article, we seek to identify and introduce the corners of culture of this oblivious area. The study areas included the Tombstones of four cemeteries in Islamabad West, in the villages (Barze 2, Chefte 3, Asheghan and Chenar 4), dating to the late Islamic era. Belonging to the twelve to fourteen centuries AH, and the rule of Zand, Qajar and Pahlavi eras, these cemeteries are located in the region of the Great Gooran and Kalhor tribes in the Islamabad West. Gooran is one of the great Iranian tribes living in Kermanshah province whose members speak Kurdish (Goorani dialect). The tribe inhabits vast areas of Kermanshah province (Sarpol Zahab, Qasr-e Shirin, West Islamabad and West Kerand. Kalhor is the largest tribe in Kermanshah and the second largest in Iran who are mainly settled in West Gilan and West Islamabad. The motifs on the tombstones of Gooran tribe can be divided into different categories. It seems that these images are in some way related to the beliefs of the immortality of the ghost and are definitely influenced by religious beliefs, narratives and cultural beliefs. Plant and animal motifs in many of the tombstones have a special place. Since ancient times, trees have been considered as the reflection of the whole human landscape and his deepest desires. In the world of human beliefs, tree is a symbol of birth and development and life in general and has found holy effects. The plant motifs of Gooran tribe’s tombstones include images of trees such as cedar and coarse foliage decoration, which are exquisitely engraved on the gravestones. Animal designs are among other motifs to be found on the gravestones of this region and can be divided into three general categories: 1. Beasts, 2.Aquatics, 3.Birds. Among these, motifs of horses attract more attention as compared to other ones. The image of a horse with a rider while working or alongside motifs of objects and tools or alonely is drawn on the gravestones of these cemeteries. This animal holds a very valuable and praiseworthy place in pre-Islamic mythology, ancient religious texts, Shahnameh and indigenous cultures. Apart from their common use for transportation and hunting, horses were also used in ceremonial functions, military, festive, decorative and ritual activities as well. By comparing the images of these cemeteries with contemporary cemeteries in other parts of Iran, we find that Gooran tribe’s gravestones in Islamabad West have significant differences and similarities with those motifs of other parts of Iran. Such differences could be summarized as follows: In Islamabad’s tombstones, we find human motifs of men and women dressed in Qajar clothes having long hair; while the human designs in the Dar al- Salaam cemetery in Shiraz are much less significant and different. However, the motifs found on the tombstones of Koohdasht and Abdanan Ilam cemeteries are most similar with Islamabad Cemetery in terms of human designs. Animal motifs (mountain goats, deers, lions and horses), tools and equipment found on the tombstones of Kalhor tribe in Islamabad like Abdanan cemetery are much more diverse than those of Kohdasht and Dar al-Salaam cemeteries. The inscriptions on the tombstones in Dar al-Salaam cemetery in Shiraz are more diverse as compared to those found in Islamabad, Koohdasht and Abdanan.