On the top of mount Gogjeh Dagh in Torkman Sahra, Golestan Province, Iran, there are three tombs which is believed to belong to prophet Khaled (Khaled Nabi) on the highest mount in the region, 700m above sea level, along with his father in law (Aalam Baba) and his shepherd (Choopan Baba) on lower adjacent hills.
Close to the tombs, there is an ancient Mysterious Cemetery with about 500 strange and unusual gravestones, with shapes of human genital organs, representing buried person's gender. There is no comprehensive study about the origin, date or religion of the people buried there; some believe they belong to people with phallicism ideas, migrated from India or central Asia, as there is no evidence for such believes among local people through history.
There are three main shapes for the gravestones:
- Male genital organ shapes, some with height up to 5m, resembling buried males
- Female breast shape or genital organ shape with height up to 2m, resembling buried females
- Cylinders with Ram head, as sign of fertility, power, sovereignty and respect.
Whatever these stones are and resemble, they are mystic, beautiful and part of human heritage.
For seeing more photos about this interesting place, please visit:
http://www.pbase.com/k_amj/khaled_cemetery