A Comparative Study of the Menhir of the Shaharyeri Historical Site Located in Meshginshahr of Ardabil Province and the Saint-Sernin Aveyron in the South of France

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Faculty of Art, Department of Painting, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran.

2 Master of Arts in Painting, Faculty of Art, Department of Painting Al-Zahra University, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

Problem statement: The physical similarity between the Menhirs from the Iron Age II (586–1000 BC) in the Shaharyeri historical site in Meshginshahr, Ardabil province, and Saint-Sernin Aveyron in the south of France is a significant issue that has not been addressed thus far. This research seeks to study the similarities between these Menhirs, which originated from similar burial rituals commonly held in these two areas.
Research objective: The main objective is to study the physical similarity between the two Menhirs at the historical sites of Shaharyeri and Saint-Sernin Aveyron. The sub-goal is to compare the similarities and differences between these Menhirs, recognize their nature, and study the culture and burial ritual of the ancient Turks (Ushaghalari School) in the west of Iran. Therefore, this study draws the researchers’ attention to the other aspects of art.
Research method: This study employed the comparative-historical method. All documents were collected through library research and Shaharyeri’s pictures were compiled by the authors through field research.
Conclusion: The results of this study show that the similarities between Shaharyeri and Saint-Sernin Aveyron’s Menhirs are due to the Bicameral Mind, or the evolution of neural structures underlying human perception. So, the human mind evolved through mental inspiration and attained a common mental consciousness, and these same thoughts and awareness have led to the emergence of similar artistic works across the world. Despite quite a distance, these artworks have similarities in general and differences in details.

Keywords


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