فصلنامه اثر
پیاپی 56 (بهار 1391)

In this article Takht-e-Soleyman’s Tiles are introduced and studied. In the tiling decoration of Abaqa-khan’s palace, Mongolic have profited the best technology of their period. Takht-e-Soleyman’s tiles are in various types as luster ware, gilded tiles, azure tiles, cyan tiles, geometric tiles and monochrome tiles that the luster ware and gilded tiles are the most precious of them. Most of these tiles have Persian and Arabic inscriptions and poems that generally poems are Farsi and traditions are Arabic. Takht-e-Soleyman’s tiles still have not been scientific category and technical study, and even they have not comprehensive introduced yet. This study has started on target to know glazes compound, body of the tiles structure and technology of these monuments. For this intention, some samples were tested and analyzed. Tests were chosen in the way to reach useful information of tiles and totally get a compilation of technical identification of the site’s variety of tiles. In pathology discourse proceeded to different damages that threaten tiles, and has considered damages that appeared on Takht-e-Soleyman’s tiles.

Establishing clay database not only helps to save the pre discoveries but also will be useful for the researchers further studies. Takhte Soleyman historical complex is one of the first centers to establish the clay database successfully.

Numerous archaeological studies associated with the site so called “Takht-e-Soleymān” have been carried out, however, to make a better and deeper understanding of this lithic complex we may require to achieve more scientific researches. Petrographic analyses of this complex are worthy from a few aspects. Such a study, for the first time, invokes attention particularly to identifying the morphological characteristics of the stone pieces, and to examining them in thin cuts, as well as to identifying suitable materials for protecting and repairing flat stones used in constructing “Takht-eSoleymān” complex. Based on the petrographic and palaeontological investigations done on thin sections of samples collected either from the ancient quarries or from the complex, a few interesting resemblances can be observed between samples collected from the structures and the ones extracted from several specific quarries such as quarry Tepe Chāl (A and B), Kochka Barz, and the quarries located in Sur and Bābānazar Mountains. Yet, the relevant sources for some other samples such as yellow limestone, yellow sandstone.

The present paper explores and introduces the project of aesthetical and historical restoration of Anahita Temple at Takht-e Soleiman. The aesthetical restoration is based on selection of the most attractive parts and the historical restoration is based on the historical documents and evidence, the combination of these two styles with Schultz Ontology Tool is based on typological, morphological and topological studies. The research method in the present study is combination of qualitative (case to theory: inductive) and quantitative (theory to case: deductive) approaches. The result of the study shows that the temple lacked roof, several arches were supported by piers, and the big opening was not covered.

This study is a part of Architectural Material Studies of Takht-e-Soleiman project which Identification of bricks in site’s monuments. In this research, first has down morphology of bricks and considered variety of bricks with a view to dimensions, color, arrange and texture. Intent to technical identification of bricks used XRD analysis to know bricks compound and has studied clay minerals with petrography and also recognized fired temperature with STA. Results of this research show that build up in a hurry caused to use undesirable bricks and all of the oven’s products. This result is because of large number of red bricks and any number of high fire minerals. Therefore decay and scaling of bricks in site related to low fire temperature and unsuitable clay compound with strong effect of soluble salts. Environmental erosion’s agents with interior and structural problems destroyed and scaled bricks in Takht-e- Soleiman.

The vast archaeological complex of Takht-e Soleiman lies 45 km from Takab County, West Azerbaijan Province, in a mountainous region lain with natural-historical attractions, and is circumscribed by a strong defensive wall. Next to the complex there is an always boiling lake. This enormous religious-social complex was looted and sacked in 624 AD in the reign of Khosrow Parviz during Iran and Rome wars. Due to political insurgencies of the late Sasanian period, Arab invasion and conversion of Iranians to Islam, the complex was not revitalized, thus starting to fall into ruin. The remains of the adur Wishnasp fire temple (the only standing example of the three great Sasanian fire temples) and other Sasanian remains within the defensive wall such as Iwan-e Khosrow (a smaller model of Iwan-e Kasra), temple ascribed to Anahita, and other archaeological unites of the complex, and Islamic relics, in particular Ilkhanid palaces, and historical-natural attractions in the surrounding area, necessitates the attention of cultural heritage and other related officials in order to prevent unsystematic interventions in the sites. The ruins of Takht-e Soleiman drew the attention of scholars and orientalists since 19th century AD so that the extensive works of the joint Swedish-German-Iranian expedition at the site, starting in 1958, which lasted for twenty years, produced a plethora of finds. The expedition was permanently interrupted by the Iranian Revolution of 1972. In 1993, Takht-e Soleiman was selected as a great cultural heritage project, and extensive work was carried out there by the Iranian experts in the way of conservation and salvage of decaying architectural features, restoration of the remains, documentations, preparation of technical documents, resuming archaeological works and publishing the results. The present report looks at a number of these executive measures and preparation of the complex for scientific and touristic exploitation.

One of the most important fire temples in the Sasanian era is constructed in a place that is called Takht-e-Soleiman, nowadays. This Fire-temple and its accessory buildings, such as the temple attributed to Anahita, the place of the eternal fire, the halls and spaces related to the royal family, are located inside the Castle including two separated levels. The interior enclosure, environing all the main buildings, is a rectangular fortification. The complex, including the interior enclosure and the sedimentary limestone rock that is created by the famous water spring of Takht-e-Soleiman, is surrounded by a roughly oval perimeter enclosure. This exterior enclosure has followed the topographic lines of the natural feature of the limestone rock and is more fortified than the interior enclosure. According to evidences, the exterior castle consists of 38 towers and two gates. There are no signs of architectural spaces inside the walls between the towers; nevertheless, there had been a pavement upon the enclosures. There are evidences of the Tower Rooms in summit of some of the towers. By searching among the debris and during the archaeological excavations, some stone pieces of the crenellations and the machicolations are discovered. The interior enclosure is rectangular and more feeble and includes a throughout passageway inside it. According to available information, there is only one gate in the middle of the northern side and the southern part, which belongs to the Sasanid period of Takht-e-Soleiman that includes a large fountain, is not fully known. This paper, introducing the architectural elements and the fortifications of Takht-e-Soleiman, discusses the defensive architecture of the complex in the Sasanian time range.

Chahar-taqy of Takht-i Suleiman fire temple is one of the important Sassanid constructions in Azerbaijan which deteriorated in later periods (especially after Ilkhanid period 1300 AD) because of desolateness and lack of attention, and now the only remaining of this historic monument are dome bases and signs of the ruined Ribs between four dome piers. The main objective of this paper is to re-reading the main form of Chahar-taqy through field studies, analysis of historic documents, comparative studies and exploring evolutionary trend of the work regarding similar cases and also considering technology and philosophical and practical basis of construction period in order to use it in protective coverage design to prevent from the threat of corrosive factors and gradual destruction of the building and create a clear image of its basic form for the visitors. Although the result of this study could be use in variety restoration and conservation project against gradual degradation. So to reach this aim, the originally form re-create by using remaining evidence, historical documents and comparative studies, and finally according the originally form, a protective design prepare in adaptation and harmony with historical construction. The study demonstrates that Takht-i Suleiman Chahar-taqy form was like all Sassanid Chahar-taqy, and its dome form was just like other Sassanid domes constructed by primary pendentives and is in oval shape, but in some situation it followed particular archetype.

“Site museums” are museums established in a historical site and this is the distinctive feature they have compared to museums. However, the term is not just applied to historic sites and can widely be used for natural zones with special attractions or even contemporary works of art. Nowadays, “site museums” are favored over classic museums for they absorb more people and they help develop the sites in a much shorter time. Architectural innovations mingled with historical sites and their natural basis, changes “site museums” into pleasant cultural spaces. Landscape and perspective design considerations in “site museums” are of utmost importance. A “site museum” is to be designed in a way that the visual features of the site are not damaged and can even fix up some probable inelegance. Yet, it should be flexible against

In the south western of calcareous flat - dome of Takht- e-Soleyman (Azargoshnasb), there is a elongated mass stone that so called Ejdaha stone. Ejdaha stone is formed from deposition of calcinations waters that flow from the lake located over that flat – dome. As these waters rise up, they released 2 CO and they deposit solution as elongated mass of calcium carbonate. For this reason Ejdaha stone, due to the view of genetic is a calcareous self – built channel. The purpose of this research is: the genetic, morphological, archaeological characteristics and also the role of human in the creation and extension of Ejdaha stone. In this research, we have used the field study such as topographic survey, trench carving in Ejdaha stone wall, chemical analysis of lake flowing waters and morphological presentation of Ejdaha stone by means of GIS. In the trench carved in the nortth side and in the tallest part of this wall, three old canals and two anathyrosis layers have been found. These canals indicate the periodic changes of water flow on the carbonate bed of the wall. The inner anathyrosis of the trench also show the role of human in forming of bed and directing of water in appropriate and useable course. By dating of carbonate deposits placed within anathyrosis, we can estimate the time of canals bed making by human.