Secrets of Chega Sofla await further excavation
Chega Sofla, first identified in 1971 during a short-term survey by German archaeologists in Behbahan, Khuzestan Province, has long been recognized as a major settlement in the Persian Gulf region. Despite several excavation seasons, archaeologists have yet to reach the site’s untouched layers. Current findings, however, suggest the site dates back to the early fifth millennium BCE, according to archaeologist Abbas Moqaddam.
He highlighted the tombs of Chega Sofla as the most remarkable discoveries. “The tombs are true eternal homes and afterlife structures,” he said. “They are fully architectural, expertly constructed from bricks, and their precise proportions and engineered layouts provide important lessons in ancient funerary architecture.”
The discovery of the world’s first brick tomb at Chega Sofla, dating to the fifth millennium BCE, is considered a key piece of evidence for funerary architecture in southwestern Iran and the wider Persian Gulf civilization, mehrnews.com wrote.
Regarding the settlement area, Moqaddam explained that archaeologists uncovered a large sanctuary, complete with a worship platform and an offering platform. On the offering platform, 73 standing stones were found, indicating a deeply religious society in which spiritual and ritual beliefs played a central role. “These findings suggest that Chega Sofla was likely one of the major ritual centers of the fifth millennium BCE,” he added.
One of the most striking discoveries at the site, Moqaddam said, is the social structure emphasizing the role of women. Of 102 burials identified, more than half belonged to women, suggesting that women held prominent positions and played key roles in society.
Moghaddam illustrated this with a notable burial: alongside a collective grave containing 52 individuals, archaeologists discovered the grave of a 25-year-old woman, whom they named “Khatun.” She was buried with great care and accompanied by two symbolic objects—a stone weight and a sword. “This combination evokes the image of the goddess of justice, who holds a scale and a sword. We believe this woman held authority and played a role in maintaining social order during her life,” he said.
He also noted that in an 11-person brick tomb, the last individual buried was a woman. Among the deformed skulls recovered, female examples outnumbered males, offering further evidence of a female-centered social structure at Chega Sofla.
Highlighting ongoing questions, he stressed the importance of discovering the site’s main sanctuary. “We are confident that the central sanctuary exists within the settlement, but it has not yet been uncovered. This makes continued excavation essential,” he said.
On the economic structure of the community, he added that Chega Sofla was home to skilled artisans — metalworkers, potters, stonecutters, weavers, and other craftsmen — living largely self-sufficient lifestyles. Findings also suggest the community maintained long-distance trade networks, importing raw materials such s obsidian, marble, and metals from distant regions.
Moqaddam concluded that Chega Sofla still holds many of its secrets. Its untouched layers, the main sanctuary, and the social and economic details of the community all require further exploration to provide a more complete picture of one of the earliest centers of civilization in the Persian Gulf region.