The Inscribed Tombstones of the Sheikh Sulaiman Cemetery in the Village of Yalanpe–Khurmal

(An Artistic, Analytical, and Field Study)

Abstract

Yalanpei is one of the most beautiful villages in Hawraman -The South of Kurdistan.  In the north side it over looks to Khurmal district and it’s (4.5Km) away from Khurmal district. According to the Hawraman’s geography It is the last Hawraman’s village which its villagers speak Hawrami. It’s one of the ancient Kurdistan and Hawraman’s villages.

 The example of ancient and archaeological sites of the village such as… cave, cemetery, castle are emphasizing it’s old history. One of the most important monuments of the village is the Cemetery of Sheikh Sulaiman. This monument still alive and it’s story still words of the street in the village.

Cemetery of Sheikh Sulaiman is located at the bottom of the village it’s about (340 m) away from the village. In (12H/18 AD) Sheikh Sulaiman moved from Taratawan Village to Yalanpe for spreading Islam and he settled there, soon he became a prominent figure among the people and got lot of reputation. After being beheaded in a battle against the Safavids in the valley of Chala Rash (Klkay Nazrga) which is located in the border of the village. After the battle his body couldn’t be found, but his head. The villagers brought his head back and buried it in the cemetery and then after their deaths, his family members were buried around his grave.

 The cemetery contains a large number of graves, but the purpose of our research is the headstones of the graves which surfaces are painted with patterns and inscriptions now four of these graves are broken and four of them are still safe.

The aim of this research is to show the history and importance of this cemetery, especially these graves which are their headstones are carved based on the patterns, paintings, types of lines and these names which were engraved on the graves’ headstones. This information is special and they form an important part of the religious, social and political history of the region and the village.