Haj Saleh Bathhouse, located in the historical fabric of Saqqez city, dates back to the Zand period. Its entrance is situated in the city's traditional bazaar. The construction style of the building is Isfahani and features unique stucco decorations. One of the notable and significant stucco reliefs in the bathhouse is the hunting scene, which has undergone extensive deterioration. This relief consists of three layers: two lime-based layers and one paint layer.
In this study, through laboratory examination, the materials used in the stratigraphy of the relief were technically identified. Subsequently, the deterioration patterns affecting the artwork were analyzed. The conservation and restoration process of the hunting scene is also detailed: following mechanical and chemical cleaning, delaminated areas were consolidated using an injection method. A slurry made from dental gypsum combined with 5% Plextol in water was injected with the aid of a pillow (bladder) technique to reattach and strengthen the lifted layers. The missing parts were reconstructed using a mixture of gypsum and 5% Plextol, followed by chromatic reintegration with watercolors to match the surrounding areas and faded pigments. Finally, the entire artwork underwent final consolidation using 5% Plextol solution.
Shahr-i Sokhta in Sistan is one of the most significant and pivotal archaeological sites in southeastern Iran, with initial settlement dating back to the Bronze Age (3200 BCE). The site spans an area of approximately 151 hectares, of which 120 hectares contain material and cultural remains. It consists of three major parts: the central area, the industrial zone, and the cemetery. Excavation results indicate four cultural-occupational phases (I–IV), which are further subdivided into eleven sub-phases. Pottery, being the most abundant cultural-historical artifact found across many archaeological sites in southeastern Iran, including Shahr-i Sokhta, holds considerable importance in archaeological studies. It is the only category of ancient object that has survived through millennia with minimal alteration. Archaeologists believe that most of the pottery discovered at Shahr-i Sokhta was produced locally, either within the site or in satellite workshop areas. To evaluate this hypothesis, the present study employed laboratory methods, including petrographic thin section analysis using a polarizing microscope (OPM) and X-ray Powder Diffraction (XRPD), on three buff pottery samples recovered from grave no. 8525 NFB at the site. The analytical results, when compared with the local geology, indicate that the buff pottery from this site is of local origin. Furthermore, based on structural analysis and the presence of calcite grains, a firing temperature of approximately 800°C is suggested for some samples, while others likely underwent firing at around 900°C.
