Someone emailed me today for information about a dulcimer they heard recently. I play fretted (Appalachian) dulcimer, so that's how the contact was made, but it turns out that the person is interested in finding out about/purchasing/taking lessons for an Iraq hammered dulcimer.

I came up with something (Google search) called a Santur, which may be the item in question, or it may be a related instrument:

Santur (Dulcimer)
Abstract: Dulcimer (Santour) is an Iranian musical instrument which for the first time was recorded in Assyrian and Babylonian stone inscriptions in 669 B.S. Santour was christened dulcimer in English literature since 1400 A.D. and nowadays more than 10 types of Iraqi, Egyptian, Indian and Turkish dulcimers and are made and played in other countries.

Does anyone here know if I'm getting warm?

~b.walnut