Recognition and investigation of the themes and reliefs of tombstones of the City Darreh-Shahr in Ilam Province

Tombstones have been mirrors of the culture and customs of traditional societies in Iran. In pristine areas such as the city of the province of Ilam; Darreh-shahr, decorative motifs of tombstones are a gateway to the world of religious and cultural thoughts of the people of this land. The city Darreh-shahr cemetery tombstones are similar to other Iran regions and Abdanan tombstones in Ilam, Adorned with reliefs and decorative motifs, they are derived from the cultural, social and religious context of people who live in this area. The current study presents a survey and identification of Mahdi-Saleh-Majin cemetery tombstones, Var-kamareh, Koleh-jub, Qur-Qamarbeg, Sheikh-Makan and Babaseyf-e-din-Aramu cemetery a rural district in the central district of Darreh-Shahr County, Ilam Province, in order to examine these reliefs. The study was descriptive, analytical with field and library studies of low reliefs, meanwhile, through classification of tombstones reliefs which have been the case study, we attempt to find the answers of following questions: what type of reliefs or decorative motifs are used on the tombstones? How are these reliefs explained and interpreted in the social and cultural environment of city Darreh-shahr? The results indicated that reliefs of females tombstones are different from males and are classified in specific category with a variety of themes such as hunting, companion events, the quotidian tools: (dagger, gun, comb, scissors, ewer and washbasin, etc.) and religious reliefs: (religious inscriptions, seal designs and bead roll ). Repetition and similarity of reliefs in all the under study cemeteries are an indication of presence of a specific and predominant pattern in tombstones design and decoration in this region. Precisely, according to researchers, the study of these sort of disregarded monuments should be performed for a better realization of local culture in this area. A very interesting point in investigation and recognition of the under study reliefs is gender segregation which can be perceived based on design. Female graves are decorated with motifs such as scissors, double comb, Krkit (carpets comb) and mausoleums decorated with images of men hunting, one-sided comb, dagger or sword. Some exceptions can be seen among the tombstones and inscriptions decoration depending on the social status of the deceased person. In addition, the artist uses motifs that are tribal women's and men's specific features in this area, trying to show the important characteristics of a male or female and nomadic favorites such as hunting, carpentry, hospitality and ceremonies related to events such as guests hand washing with ewer and washbasin, making hookahs, etc., using this method, in the small surface of tombstones, visual recounting of the most important nomadic culture features of the region. The influence of religious culture (religious phrases and motifs with religious content)  was discussed in the text, in addition, decoration of under study tombstones is quite tangible and visible to review. Finally, all of these designs and reliefs are the reaction of the nomadic life in the religious sphere. Today, due to negligence in the protection of these monuments, tombstones and burial culture of the region fade into oblivion and will be destroyed.