Analysis of the Application and form of Kalmakareh Golden Masks

Kalmakareh treasure was accidentally explored by a rural hunter from the Kalmakareh cave in 1989. The cave is Located in the north west of Poldokhtar City in Loristanprovice. The treasure includes different types of vessels like rhytons, human and animal statues, masks, plaques, bracelets, etc. Based on the previous studies, the treasure belongs to Neo-Elamite period (1th millennium BC). These objects bear archaeological significance and enjoy unique value, with recpect to Neo-Elamite inscriptions in some of them. Deciphering theses incscriptions by Lambert, F.Vallat and RassoulBashash, and archaeological analysis by Leila Khosravi shed light on an anonymous local governorship of the Neo-Elamite, and provided a New chapter in the archaeological studies of this particular period in the west of Iran. Except a few number of masks made of gold, the rest objects of this collection were nade of silver. It seems that, because of being as a scale for trade at the time, the artisans deliberately applied silver to produce kalmakareh treasure. The authors aim to present an analytical study on the golden masks of the treasure, and slso compare them with the same types produced in other cultures.