The Persian Princess emerged as one of archaeology’s most notorious hoaxes when it surfaced in Pakistani Baluchistan in October 2000. This alleged ancient mummy initially captivated experts and governments alike with its elaborate golden artifacts and royal inscriptions. However, what seemed like an extraordinary archaeological discovery soon unraveled into a complex web of forgery, international disputes, and possible murder.
The story began when Pakistani authorities discovered a videotape during a murder investigation. The tape showed Ali Aqbar claiming he possessed a mummy for sale. Under police questioning, Aqbar revealed the mummy’s location at tribal leader Wali Mohammed Reeki’s house in Kharan, near the Afghan border. Reeki claimed he had received the mummy from an Iranian man named Sharif Shah Bakhi, who said he found it after an earthquake near Quetta.
The Persian Princess Discovery Shocks Archaeological World
The mummy’s presentation was spectacular and convincing at first glance. It rested in an ornate gilded wooden coffin decorated with cuneiform carvings, all housed within a stone sarcophagus. The body was wrapped in ancient Egyptian style and topped with a golden crown. A faravahar image, a key Zoroastrian symbol, adorned the coffin. The mummy lay on a bed of wax and honey, covered by a stone slab.
Pakistani archaeologist Ahmad Hasan Dani from Quaid-e-Azam University initially authenticated the find during a press conference on October 26, 2000. He dated the Persian Princess to approximately 600 BC. The golden chest plate bore an inscription identifying her as Rhodogune, allegedly a daughter of Persian King Xerxes I and member of the Achaemenid dynasty. This identification would have made her one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of the century.
The black market value reflected this perceived importance. Dealers had priced the Persian Princess at 600 million rupees, equivalent to $11 million at the time. Pakistan’s National Museum eventually displayed the mummy in November 2000, drawing crowds of curious visitors and researchers.
International Claims Over the Persian Princess
This event shares similarities with: Rasputin
The discovery triggered immediate international disputes over ownership. Iran’s Cultural Heritage Organization claimed the Persian Princess as a member of Persian royalty and demanded her return to Iranian soil. Pakistan’s Archaeological Department countered that the mummy belonged to Pakistan since it was discovered in Baluchistan province. Even Afghanistan’s Taliban government entered the fray, making their own ownership claims.
Local groups also staked claims to the Persian Princess. The Awan tribe in Balochistan argued that inscriptions suggested she might belong to the House of Hika Munshi, an Awan royal family. They demanded the mummy be moved to the Kallar Kahar Fossil Museum, considering Kallar Kahar their primary tribal settlement. People in Quetta similarly demanded the police return the mummy to their city.
These competing claims reflected the mummy’s perceived historical and cultural value. Each group saw the Persian Princess as validation of their heritage and history. The international attention also highlighted the complex political dynamics surrounding archaeological discoveries in the region.
Expert Investigation Reveals Disturbing Truth
American archaeologist Oscar White Muscarella’s involvement proved crucial in exposing the fraud. In March 2000, months before the public discovery, antiquities dealer representative Amanollah Riggi had approached Muscarella with photographs of a similar mummy. The dealer claimed a Zoroastrian family in Pakistan owned it and identified it as a daughter of Xerxes based on breastplate translations.
Muscarella’s suspicions arose when carbon dating revealed the coffin was only 250 years old, not 2,600 years as claimed. The cuneiform text on the breastplate contained passages from the Behistun inscription, carved during King Darius’s reign, not Xerxes’s time. Additionally, the inscriptions weren’t in proper grammatical Persian, and forgers had used the Greek name “Rhodugune” instead of the Persian “Wardegauna.”
Muscarella had contacted Interpol through the FBI about his suspicions before the mummy gained public attention. His early warning proved prescient as the investigation deepened.
The Persian Princess Exposed as Modern Murder
Museum curator Asma Ibrahim’s examination at Pakistan’s National Museum revealed the most disturbing evidence. The corpse showed clear signs of recent death, including decomposition fungus on the face. The mat beneath the body was approximately five years old, not ancient. CAT and X-ray scans at Agha Khan Hospital confirmed the mummification didn’t follow ancient Egyptian practices.
Most significantly, the heart had been removed along with other internal organs, whereas genuine Egyptian mummies typically retained the heart. These medical examinations suggested the Persian Princess was actually a murder victim whose body had been artificially aged and decorated to create a convincing archaeological fake.
The investigation revealed a sophisticated forgery operation targeting the international antiquities market. Criminals had likely killed a young woman, mummified her body using modern techniques, and created elaborate fake artifacts to maximize profit. The 600 million rupee asking price demonstrated the enormous financial incentives driving such criminal enterprises.
Legacy and Lessons from the Persian Princess Hoax
The Persian Princess case became a watershed moment for archaeological authentication and international antiquities law. It demonstrated how sophisticated modern forgeries could initially fool even experienced experts. The case highlighted the need for more rigorous scientific testing before authenticating major discoveries.
The incident also exposed the dark reality behind the illegal antiquities trade. What appeared to be a remarkable historical artifact was actually evidence of modern murder disguised as ancient treasure. This revelation shocked the archaeological community and law enforcement agencies worldwide.
The Persian Princess remains in Pakistani custody as evidence in ongoing investigations. The case serves as a stark reminder that the quest for archaeological treasures can sometimes mask contemporary crimes. It also demonstrates the importance of scientific skepticism and thorough investigation when evaluating extraordinary claims about ancient artifacts.
The hoax ultimately reinforced the need for international cooperation in combating antiquities trafficking and protecting both archaeological heritage and human life from those who would exploit both for profit.