Gur-e Dokhtar, Achaemenid tomb in Dashtestan County, Iran.
Gur-e Dokhtar is a rectangular stone tomb in Dashtestan County with carefully cut blocks stacked in rows to form thick walls. Inside, a central burial chamber contains a small pond and recessed areas at the top for text or markings.
This tomb dates to the fifth century BCE and belongs to the Achaemenid period of Persian history. Archaeological investigation revealed it stood near several structures from the later Sassanid era.
The burial chamber reflects Persian building methods with metal fasteners holding the stones together instead of mortar. This approach was common for important structures of that era.
The stone structure is compact, so visitors should move carefully when exploring the narrow burial space inside. Watch out for low openings and the small pond when navigating the interior.
The entire structure is assembled from just twenty-two stone pieces, showing how precisely ancient builders had to work. Despite this small number of blocks, they created a durable monument that has survived thousands of years.
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