logo

Search published articles


Showing 2 results for Isfahan.

Mohammad-Sadegh Davari, Hamed Hoseini Dolat-Abadi, Hasan Kamali Dolat-Abadi,
year 3, Issue 10 (2-2020)
Abstract

Abstract
Lowdaricheh is a neighborhood in the town of Burkhar 9 km north of Isfahan. This monument is adjacent to the ancient cemetery, which has become a receational spot today. The northwest-southeast direction of the momument and its plan is a quadrilateral that later interferes. Due to its location 4 kilometers east of the historic city of Gaz (with settlements from the Parthian and Sassanid periods), the study of this building is important in its historical-cultural context. In this regard, while taking advantage of the archaeological survey of the Lowdaricheh quadrangle, it provided a relative understanding of the history of its construction and it’s use and as a basis for future comparative and comparative studies in the area, as one of the first studies of archaeological activity in the city. The most important research questions are the time of construction and the use of the building since its construction. According to preliminary assumptions and with a description of the plan of the building, the Lowdaricheh building of the Sassanid Period and the early Islamic centuries was considered to be religious. This research has been done by examining the history of the building in historical texts, evaluating the materials and decorative elements of the building, analyzing the architectural plan and comparing it with other neighboring and simultaneous buildings. The results of the research indicate that the chartaqi-e- Lowdaricheh building of the Sassanid Period or Early Islamic centuries was used by the (Zarvan-Ardashir) Fire-Temple, which was built by Ardeshir Babakan after the capture of Isfahan at noon in (Khar) village. The entrance of the Islam into the area has changed it from a Fire-Temple to a Hoseiniyeh and to this day its inhabitants use it as a religious building. 
Keywords: Chartaghi, Sasanid, Early Islamic Centuries, Lowdaricheh, Burkhar County in Isfahan.

Introduction
Burkhart city is located in the central areas of Isfahan province. The Mountains Karkas of Height 3000 meters north and northeast and the rest of the area forms a relatively flat plain. The Lowdaricheh quadrangle was visited by the authors in the summer of 2014, during the enlargement of its adjacent bypass. Upon visiting the building, the four-story plan was built and immediately mapped by experts on the site and its contemporary adjacent spaces and with the permission of the Isfahan Province’s Cultural Heritage Office, some of the interior areas were peeled to identify the materials. The historical identity of the building remains unknown to this day.
Aims and Necessity of Research: To understand the identity of the building, it was attempted to provide a relative understanding of the history of construction and use of the building concerning historical texts and archaeological evidence. 
Questions and assumptions: The most important research questions are the time of construction of the building and if the evidence is found and discovered and the know- how of it’s restoration. One of the most important research questions regarding the use of the building since its construction. According to preliminary assumptions and with the outline of the building plan, the chartaqi building of the Lowdaricheh of the Sasanian period and the early Islamic centuries was considered religious. This hypothesis was confirmed by conducting research.
Method: Fortunately, with the permission of the officials of the Isfahan Cultural Heritage Bureau, supervised by the Cultural Heritage Representation of Burkhar, the plasterboard was exfoliated in some parts of the internal body. 3 phases of architecture with different techniques and materials were identified, the first phase having two different sub-phases. Finally, it is attempted to introduce the Chartaqi of Lowdaricheh with a descriptive-analytical approach, in its historical-cultural context and its spatial range, and then to perform comparative studies with a relative land-use approach and dating. 

Description and Introduction of the Building
The monument is Situated 60 meters west of the ruined aqueduct, which is one of the most important water resources in the area. The floor of the building is street well-nigh 122 cm high and all Building wall 466 cm high from level to below the dome. Is Dome height 333 cm. The dome of the Shengeh is 122 cm high. The sides of the building vary from 470 to 480 cm. The width of the current porch is 179 cm and the base of the base is 114 cm. According to the trustee of the building, the entrance to the southeast of the building was blocked by him in 1358 Hijri Shamsi, which shows the entrance to the exterior of the building. The date of blocking the northeast entrance was unclear during the layering and visibility of the materials was found to be of the second phase of the building’s architecture (mid-Islamic period - Seljuk period) and indicates that The rebuilding time is blocked due to the near and unnecessary passage, and only the opening and arch of this entrance can be seen in the interior of the building.
Exfoliation revealed that the building has three phases and several phases of architecture: 1- The first phase consists of a primary building with local materials that has a base of crushed mud and extensions of walls with 32 cm adobe and 8 Cm 2- The second period, which features with interior tile decoration, dome shingle, and shingle tile decoration. This architectural course was created due to the demolition of the original dome and with the aim of rebuilding it by a comparative study with other monuments in the Seljuk period. The materials used in this architectural, 23 × 23×5 cm mud brick, which were common materials during the renovation of the building and were used only in the dome to strengthen the mortar. In the second period of architecture, two rows of the niche have been built in the interior of the building 3- The third phase belongs to the contemporary era with materials of brick and cement to consolidate the main building created in 1358 by the trustee and other residents.

Conclusion
In this article, Lowdaricheh chartaqi is introduced with a descriptive-analytical approach in its historical-cultural context and spatial limits and then the function and history of this structure are explained using a comparative approach. Research results and evidences ranging from similarity of local building materials and plan of Lowdaricheh chartaqi with the pattern of Sasanian fire temples and Chartaqis throughout Iran as well as Marbin and Ardestān fire temples in Isfahan, orientation of Lowdaricheh Chartaqi opposite to Mecca, the absence of signs of Mihrab (the main element of religious buildings of the Islamic era), The use of local materials in construction, lack of tomb signs and the difference with rectangular vaulted tombs of Islamic period, limited interior space of chartaqi and its isolation similar to other chartaqis of Sassanid period, presence of porches and hallways around the structure before the changes made in 1358 Hijri Shamsi and its current religious use, proximity to water resource (a Qanāt is located 60 meters West of the structure), all suggest that Lowdaricheh Chartaghi was a construction from  Sassanid period or early Islamic centuries with religious usage. Upon the advent and spread of Islamic religion in this area, this structure has been preserved like many other monuments because of its religious importance and status as well as clairvoyance of Muslims relative Lowdaricheh to other religions and has changed application as a liturgical-religious structure for newly convert Muslims and is now a Hoseiniyeh. Muslims and is now a Hoseiniyeh.

Abbasali Ahmadi,
year 7, Issue 25 (12-2023)
Abstract

Abstract
In the present research, the gravestones of the Islamic period in the Borkhar region, located in the north of Isfahan have been studied with the aim of identifying and classifying the types of species, in order to answer the following questions, in a descriptive-analytical way and with a typological approach.1- From a morphological point of view, which types of carved and inscribed tombstones existed in Borkhar? 2- What are the structural and temporal characteristics of these species in comparison with each other and in comparison with common species in other regions? 3- What is the quantity and distribution of types of gravestones in the settlements of the region and what information does it contain? Based on the results of this research, 404 tombstones were identified in the settlements and ancient sites of Borkhar. This tombstone belongs to the Safavid to Qajar periods and includes 5 species, 7 main subspecies and 29 subspecies. Although the placement in this typology has been considered; Despite this, the shape structure is the most important criterion for this division, and in the next levels, criteria such as the methods of composing the arrays, the type and the manner of the dimensions and volumes have been considered. The main species include Varaghei, Sandoghi, Ketabi (including 4 main subspecies), horizontal Mehrabi (including 3 main subspecies) and Motbagh and correspond to samples obtained from other regions of Iran. The most common species are the Balindar, the Ketabi-e Bozorg, the Mehrabi-e Jonaghi and the Sandoghi, respectively, and the two types of Mehrabi-e Helali and Motbagh have the least use. The Sandoghi species was the most common species in the Safavid period and the the Balindar species and the Ketabi-e Bozorg was the most common species in the Qajar period. According to the results obtained between the identified species and the temporal, geographical and spatial conditions of the settlements in the region, close relationships can be seen. Vertical types are more prevalent in mountainous areas and horizontal types are prevalent in low and flat areas of the region.
Keywords: Tombstone, Typology, Masonry, Borkhar, Isfahan.

Introduction
Geographically, Borkhar includes a vast plain with foothills in the north and west of it, and from the point of view of old administrative divisions, it was one of the Rastaqs of Isfahan. The word Rastaq or the Persian equivalent of that village corresponds to the modern part, and according to ancient texts, it was a place that had a lot of land and fields. According to the investigations, the history of settlement in this area reaches at least the Parthian period and from the Sassanid period to the end of the Qajar period, it has been considered as one of the rastaqs of Isfahan (Ahmadi, 2019). Old Borkhar, which corresponds to Borkhar city and the central part of Shahinshahr and Mimeh cities, from the northeast to Ardestan city, from the north to Natanz city, from the northwest to Mimeh, from the west and southwest with Alavijah and Dehgh cities, Najaf Abad. , Khomeinishahr, is limited to the city of Isfahan from the south and to the foothills of Isfahan from the east. Due to the rich cultural-historical background, there are many historical monuments left in this region, among which the prominent examples are the tombstones of the old cemeteries of some cities and villages in the region. Today, as a result of the expansion of urban and rural spaces, renovation of cemeteries, changes in traditions and cultural assimilation, many of these tombstones have been forgotten and destroyed; Based on this, in the upcoming research, Borkhar tombstones have been identified, introduced and studied for the first time as works whose destruction and destruction are felt more than ever. These tombstones belong to the Safavid to Qajar periods and are found in the old cemeteries of the villages and towns of the region such as Soh, Bideshak, Dehlor, Kalhorud, Bagh Miran, Morche khort, Gaz, Sin, Azarmanabad, Shapurabad, Habibabad, Narmi. And the ancient sites of Sefidab and Jalalabad have been identified. Although the basis of the upcoming research is the introduction of Borkhar tombstones and its importance to researchers and guardians; Nevertheless, the main goal was the typology and classification of identified tombstones based on their form and appearance characteristics in line with the goals and questions of this research; It is obvious that investigating the various aspects of the inscriptions on these tombstones requires independent research and was not the focus of this research. Based on this, the most important questions of this research are these: 1- From a morphological point of view, which types of carved and inscribed tombstones existed in Borkhar? 2- What are the structural and temporal characteristics of these species in comparison with each other and in comparison with common species in other regions? 3- What is the quantity and distribution of types of gravestones in the settlements of the region and what information does it contain?

Discussion
The present research has been carried out with a descriptive-analytical method and with a typological approach, and the acquisition of data has been achieved in two stages of field surveys and library studies. In the typology of tombstones, aspects that are more inclusive and comprehensive than other features have been emphasized and have the ability to include other partial features. Due to the fact that the subject of the research was based only on the typology of engraved and engraved stone graves, the shape structure, surface design method, type of inscriptions and motifs were taken into consideration. In some cases, besides the mentioned cases, the criterion of gender has also been taken into consideration. Because in such cases, the difference in the type of stone has led to differences in other cases, such as the way of designing and combining decorations and inscriptions. Varaghei tombstones are generally irregular polygonal shapes. In the meantime, more skill has been spent in carving a few of them and they have been carved into shapes such as square, rectangle, triangle, altar and pseudo-rhombus; However, the accuracy that is used in the cutting of other types of tombstones in the region is not seen in this type. Sandoghi tombstones are in the shape of a rectangular cube, and in addition to the top surface, its other four sides are also carved. Patterns and inscriptions are used in most of the samples on three and in some cases on four surfaces of the stone. Mehrabi type According to the shape of the upper part, is divided into three main subspecies. Ketabi tombstones can be divided into four main sub-types, including a Ketabi-e Bozorg, a Ketabi-e Marmary, a Ketabi-e Kochak, and a Ketabi-e Balindar, according to the differences in appearance, dimensions, and type of tombstone. The tombstones of the Motbagh type all belong to the Qajar period and have been identified in only two cemeteries. In this type, the tombstone has a lower rectangular surface, a smaller rectangular surface on it and finally a platform or appendage on the upper part of the second surface.

Conclusion
According to what happened among the 404 tombstones examined in this research, 5 species and 7 main subspecies were identified and classified. Each of these twelve main and minor types is identified based on the appearance of gravestones, and then by criteria such as surface design methods, patterns and inscriptions placement methods, and their composition. were divided into 29 subspecies based on stone surfaces, type, type of inscriptions and motifs. Among these, the greatest degree of homogeneity in Sandoghi types, Ketabi-e Bozorg and Motbagh is seen. Some species have lower degrees of homogeneity. Among the species identified, some were single-period and some had continuity of use during the Safavid to Qajar periods. Although similar to these species can be seen in other regions of Iran; However, their vertical or horizontal placement could be different.
Examining the samples of each species in different regions of Iran shows that Varaghei, Sandoghi, matching and the main subspecies of Ketabi-e Kochak were common in different regions from the 4th and 5th centuries of Hijri until the Qajar period, and the horizontal subspecies of Mehrabi-e Helali, like the examples of this type in Borkhar, was common only in the Qajar style. Examining the quantity of types, taking into account the ratio between types and the number of cemeteries with that type, shows that in the Safavid to Qajar periods, types such as Balindar, Ketabi-e Bozorg, Varaghei, and Mehrabi-e Jonaghi and a Sandoghi are common types of the region, and matching types, a Sandoghi and Mehrabi-e Helali and a Ketabi-e Marmary, are among the less used types of the region. The high quantity of some species or the diversity of species in some settlements of the region has been influenced by the geographical, social, economic, cultural and indigenous conditions of those places. In the study of the ratio of type and time period, it was found that the box type was the most common type used in the Safavid period, and the pillowed and large book types were the most used types in the Qajar period.

Acknowledgment
The author considers it necessary to express her gratitude to the anonymous reviewers of the journal who worked hard and added to the richness of the text of the article with their constructive suggestions.

Conflict of Interest
This article is the result of a research work that was prepared and written by me. The sources and sources used are all correct and no material has been used without mentioning the title. The author undertakes responsibility for the correctness of all published materials.


Page 1 from 1