Knowledge of Conservation and Restoration

Applying the Value-Led Management Approach to Geological Heritage Conservation in Tourism Destinations

Sajad Ferdowsi

Geological heritage, as a valuable part of natural heritage, requires a perspective that goes beyond technical interventions and should be based on understanding the values attributed to it. This study aims to develop a conceptual framework for geological heritage conservation grounded in a value-led management approach. To achieve this, through logical reasoning and a review of relevant theoretical literature, key concepts such as value, significance, cognitive dissonance theory, and principles of value-based management were examined. The findings indicate that geological heritage encompasses a set of scientific, aesthetic, cultural, ecological, educational, and economic values, which together shape its perceived importance. Since a gap often exists between stakeholders’ attitudes toward the significance of this heritage and their actual behaviors, the theory of cognitive dissonance is employed to identify and analyze these discrepancies. Accordingly, the proposed framework introduces three core principles of value-led management—clarifying, communicating, and aligning values—as strategic mechanisms to reduce cognitive dissonance and enhance coherence among various stakeholders, including local communities, tourists, and experts. In this framework, conservation is not merely a physical act but a process shaped by value-based, cognitive, and behavioral interactions. This perspective is particularly effective for complex and multifaceted domains such as geological heritage, allowing conservation efforts to be not only scientific and expert-driven but also inclusive, sustainable, and impactful. The proposed framework can serve as a foundation for policy-making, educational program design, and the enhancement of social participation in geological heritage conservation at tourism destinations.

Splashed Ware Pottery Manufacturing Technology in Iran

Atefe Fazel

A large group of Islamic-era ceramics consists of splashed ware and sgraffito pottery, which are of significant historical and technical importance. This study aims to reconstruct the production technology of splashed ware during the Islamic period in Iran by examining its formation process and technical fabrication stages. This research seeks to answer the following questions: What was the process of splashed glaze formation in Iran? How can the technical stages of splashed glaze reconstruction be achieved based on the study of samples? To this end, 100 studied samples were examined, and 10 specimens were purposefully selected for experimental reconstruction of splashed ware. The research methodology is applied, utilizing historical analysis and experimental testing to produce samples of splashed ware ceramics. The study samples were carefully analyzed to understand the materials and manufacturing processes involved in splashed ware technology.

Investigation of Metal Smelting Remains at the Dehneh Lashkar Site (Robat Posht-e Badam) with Emphasis on Petrographic and Geochemical Analysis of Slags

Aminallah Kamali

Yazd Province, with its diverse mineral resources and long history of metallurgical activities from prehistoric to contemporary times, is considered one of the primary centers of ancient metalworking in the Central Iranian Plateau. The Dehneh Lashkar metal smelting site, located near Robat Posht-Badam village, was identified during regional geological surveys and studied for the first time. From this site, covering an area of 140 square meters, 10 slag samples were collected, with 4 samples subjected to petrographic analysis and 4 samples analyzed chemically using ICP-OES. The examined samples exhibited distinct macroscopic characteristics, including dark green to black coloration, irregular morphology, porous to dense textures, and dimensions ranging from 2 to 7 cm. Petrographic studies revealed that the slags primarily consist of fayalite (Fe₂SiO₄), pyroxene, and glassy phases, with spinifex and porphyritic textures indicative of rapid cooling and incomplete melt crystallization. Polished section analyses further confirmed the presence of copper sulfide phases, including bornite (Cu₅FeS₄), covellite (CuS), and native copper (Cu) within the slags. Chemical analyses indicated an average copper concentration of 1.96 wt% and zinc concentration of 0.88 wt%, suggesting the use of Cu-Pb-Zn polymetallic ores as the primary raw material. The average calcium oxide (CaO) content of 24 wt% points to the use of carbonate rocks (likely limestone and dolomite) as fluxes to adjust viscosity and lower the melting temperature. The chemical composition of the slags suggests an average smelting temperature of 1100–1200°C, consistent with the use of siliceous and carbonate fluxes to enhance metal separation. This study provides evidence of an ancient metalworking industry at the site based on petrographic and chemical analyses of the slags. The main research questions addressed the types of metals extracted and the metallurgical processes employed. Based on the findings, the site was primarily exploited for copper extraction. Although insufficient surface evidence was available for precise dating, petrographic and chemical studies indicate the use of advanced metallurgical technologies capable of achieving temperatures of 1100–1200°C and employing combined siliceous-carbonate flux systems to optimize the reduction and metal separation processes.

Recreation of the Timekeeping Device of the Rokniyeh School in Yazd

Ali Shahabinejad

The timekeeping device of the Rokniyeh school complex, known as Rasad-e-vaght o saat, was built in 725 AH in the current vicinity of the Vaght-o-saat square in Yazd, at the request of Sayyed Rukn al-Din. This mechanical device was a type of tower for determining time (annual calendar) and hours (daily timekeeping) based on the gravity energy of water fluid, and it is considered a significant achievement in the history of science and technology in Iran. Although this device existed until the Timurid era and during the compilation of two important local Yazd historical books, History of Yazd and new History of Yazd, after this period, the Rokniyeh complex and its famous Rasad declined, and no trace of it has remained from the Safavid era to the present day. However, what the local history books of Yazd describe about this building indicates the grandeur, complexity, and notable technical details of this device for displaying times and hours. With regard to the importance of this device, numerous researchers have referred to it in their studies, but this device had not been recreated until now, and no image or document of its appearance and functional components had been prepared. For this reason, in 2022, the project for the recreation of this device was undertaken with the support of the Yazd Regional Water Company, and it was completed in 2024 through the joint cooperation of Mazdabad Company and Yazd University. In the recreation of this device, for the first time, the overall appearance of the device along with all its main functional elements was recreated, and the operational mechanism of each component of the clock for displaying times and hours, including the wooden wheel, day and night hour houses, the ball and cymbal and pot mechanism, the minaret of metal sign, and the rooster minaret, has been shown. In addition, a small-scale replica of this device, capable of displaying all the main functions of the clock in accordance with its historical mechanism, has been built and is displayed at the Yazd Water Museum. This article present a description of the research process and the recreation of the device, along with explanations of the functioning of the chronological elements in this clock, while also introducing the historical documentation of the research.

A Review on the Application of Plant Compounds in the Biological Conservation of Paper Artifacts Against Fungi

Saeede Soleimani

The biological degradation of paper-based historical artifacts is a major concern in cultural heritage preservation, particularly due to fungal contamination. Fungi thrive in environments with high humidity and poor ventilation, rapidly breaking down cellulose fibers and causing irreversible damage. Although chemical antifungal agents have traditionally been used for prevention and control, their adverse effects on human health, the environment, and sometimes the artifact itself have prompted a search for safer alternatives. This review explores the current literature on the antifungal effects of medicinal plants relevant to the conservation of paper-based artifacts. It presents a synthesis of studies on the active compounds in plant-based treatments, evaluates their effectiveness against common paper-degrading fungal species, and highlights practical applications involving direct use on paper substrates. While the results are promising, further research is needed to standardize treatment protocols, determine optimal concentrations, and assess long-term stability and safety of these natural compounds for heritage conservation.

A Review of the Concept and Strategic Actions of Preventive Conservation

Somayeh Noghani

Preserving cultural heritage demands a strategic synthesis of scientific, technical, and policy-driven measures to safeguard irreplaceable assets for future generations. Preventive conservation, as a proactive and evidence-based approach, addresses the inevitable material degradation accelerated by environmental and human factors. Beyond regulating environmental conditions, its effectiveness lies in integrating precise documentation, advanced digital modeling and simulation, continuous monitoring, optimized storage and transport, crisis management planning, and legal and insurance frameworks. Sustained success requires interdisciplinary collaboration among specialists in conservation, risk management, heritage law, and education, underpinned by systematic risk identification, assessment, and prioritization. This study critically examines these interlinked dimensions, presenting a holistic framework that enhances resilience, prolongs the lifespan of cultural artifacts, and strengthens the sustainability of cultural heritage. By positioning preventive conservation as both a scientific methodology and a strategic management paradigm, the article underscores its indispensable role in ensuring the enduring survival of humanity’s shared legacy.

Hypothesis on the inauthenticity of the dated inscription of the mihrab of the Jameh Mosque of Urmia

Yaser Hamzavi

The present research investigates the authenticity and probable date of execution of the dated inscription in the central part of the mihrab of the Jameh Mosque of Urmia. At first glance, the date 676 AH inscribed on the inscription attributes its origin to this period. However, this research begins by posing the fundamental question of whether the current inscription is the same original inscription belonging to the 13th century CE (7th century AH) or whether it was reconstructed in later periods based on an older inscription that was likely damaged or destroyed. The main objective of this research is to determine or refute the authenticity of the dated inscription of the mihrab of the Jameh Mosque of Urmia. This article will analyze the mihrab inscription of the Jameh Mosque of Urmia using an analytical-historical approach and drawing upon fieldwork and artistic and historical analyses. The results of field investigations and observations of the stucco decorations in various parts of the dome chamber of the Jameh Mosque of Urmia indicate that the inscription in the central part of the mihrab, executed in 676 AH, was sketched and recorded during the Safavid period (likely). Subsequently, the inscription in question was completely destroyed (and possibly some reinforcement work was done on the underlying layer), and then the same original text that had been sketched was transferred onto a new stucco base and the stucco work was carried out. In fact, the construction date of the mihrab is indeed 676 AH, but the inscription under discussion was executed in the late Safavid period. The final section of the inscription, related to Surah Al-Fath, also dates from the restorations of this period. A noteworthy point in the intervention is that the text of the inscription was reconstructed exactly to ensure that the construction date of the mihrab and the artist who created it would not be forgotten. In essence, during a certain period (likely Safavid), a stucco master executed the dated inscription of the mihrab and the final section of the Al-Fath inscription using a specific type of stucco, a particular processing method, and a distinct cutting technique, which differ from the Ilkhanid and Qajar sections.

A Note on the Book :The Interaction of Restoration and Architectural History in Iran

Eskandar Mokhtari Taleghani

This note reviews the book "The Interaction of Restoration and Architectural History in Iran" by Zaatollah Nikzad. The author highlights that this book, emphasizing the relationship between restoration and architectural history, addresses the necessity of preserving architectural works, especially from the perspective of understanding and transmitting the embedded messages within them. The author argues that restoration should not merely be seen as an executive task but as an interpretive and research process, aiming to understand both the architecture and its history. Restorers must benefit from diverse sciences and, in addition to their artistic skills, should possess a proper understanding of architectural history and the creators of historical works. Mokhtari emphasizes that restorers, along with their scientific and technical skills, should engage with historiography and cultural understanding of architectural works, and this understanding should be incorporated into the restoration process. Architectural history must be documented precisely in interaction with the performed restorations to provide primary data for researchers. Ultimately, Mokhtari introduces the restorer as a custodian of architectural history and science, arguing that they should, with precision and responsibility, preserve historical information and evidence and pass them on to future generations. The book "The Interaction of Restoration and Architectural History in Iran" highlights the significance of this new approach in restoration, which should be regarded as the first step in research on Iranian architectural conservation and history.