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Marine Corps Intelligence Activity |
(U) Lur and Bakhtiari
(U) Physical Description and Basic Facts
This section describes the Lur and Bakhtiari physically and discusses the differences between them.
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(U) The Lur and Bakhtiari are Caucasian and have round faces and thick, black hair. Men often have a full beard and mustache, which they usually keep well-trimmed. Younger men, however, sometimes shave their faces. Their clothes are considerably more decorative than the attire of other ethnic minority groups. Women keep their hair long and rarely wear the full-length chador (veil) imposed on Iranian women.
(U) The Lur and Bakhtiari tribes both live in the Zagros Mountains of western Iran. Although they once shared the same culture and speak the same language, Luri, the Bakhtiari have been considered a separate political and tribal entity for over two centuries.
(U) The nomadic life that is second-nature to the Bakhtiari is arduous and challenging. Uncertainty and insecurity rule all aspects of their lives. Because they travel from one region to another, they choose all their belongings carefully. The Bakhtiari pack and carry all belongings on the backs of horses and donkeys regularly; therefore, the Bakhtiari are forced to focus on the practicality of everything from their clothing to their shelter.
(U) The Bakhtiari are considered vertical nomads because they range between different elevations. In the winter, they live at lower elevations. In the summer, they can climb up to 15,000 feet into the mountains, where there are good pastures for their goats and sheep. Annual migrations occur in the fall and spring. Piles of small stones mark the most difficult passages; they serve as a pledge made for safe delivery from danger.
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