Sistan Anthropology Museum transporting visitors to bygone eras
Sistan Anthropology Museum, situated in a historical building in Zabol, the capital of Sistan and Baluchestan Province, showcases a remarkable collection of ancient artifacts that transport visitors to bygone eras. Culture enthusiasts can journey back 5,000 years through the museum’s exhibits and gain insight into the vibrant heritage and civilization of the Sistan people, particularly those of the Burned City (Shahr-e Sukhteh). Originally constructed during the Qajar era in 1898 CE as the English Consulate by local architects, the building was entrusted to the Cultural Heritage Department of Zabol in 1989.
Over the span of 17 years, from that year until 2006, extensive restoration work was undertaken, leading to the establishment of the Sistan Anthropology Museum. Located on Ferdowsi Street in Zabol, the museum sits on a 4,000-square-meter plot of land with a building area of 1,125 square meters.
The architectural design and construction of the edifice integrate aspects of administration and military, drawing from traditional and indigenous methods. The museum houses over 32,000 historical pieces from Dahan-e Gholaman, a pivotal Achaemenid hub and archaeological site, and Burned City, one of the earliest known civilizations in the world.
The structure comprises a series of interconnected small and large rooms linked by corridors, featuring a variety of domed ceilings across all spaces, with skylights and chimney pipes discreetly positioned behind the roof. In total, the museum encompasses 20 rooms interconnected by two primary corridors, with mud bricks and clay serving as the predominant building materials.
Archeology section
In this section, a valuable collection of cultural objects such as various types of pottery, wooden objects, clay figurines, fabrics, ropes, and ceramic items from the Burned City, including multicolored, red, gray, and chickpea pottery (consisting of jars, bottles, bowls, cups, vases, and more) are on display.
Graves
Two reconstructed graves are showcased in the museum to illustrate burial practices in the Burned City. Each grave consists of a vertical pit, followed by a chamber or niche next to it, with pottery objects and vessels included as offerings due to beliefs in the afterlife. By examining the differences in objects and items inside the graves, the quality and types of materials used in their construction can help identify the degree of poverty, wealth, social class, and, in some cases, occupation.
Residential room
The layout of this room is roughly quadrilateral, with construction materials including adobe, bricks, wood, and thatch used for flooring and shades, along with mud plaster adorning the walls. The room features a door, doorway, ceiling, hearth, and ceramic vessels for storing grains and food.
Anthropology section
In this section, the architecture of the building has been utilized to create various scenes, along with the display of wax statues and dioramas depicting customs, ways of life, economy, various ceremonies, food, and clothing, showcasing the authentic and traditional culture of Sistan.
Some of these scenes include wedding galleries, agriculture, hunting and fishing, and jewelry. Visitors can learn about the way of life of the people of Sistan by observing various musical instruments, weapons, ancient paintings, tools, and antique vessels displayed in the museum.