Identifying Troglodytic Architecture of Barzroud Valley-Iran

In 2005, the management of Abyaneh historical village base on behalf of Iranian Cultural Heritage Organization, appointed author to conduct a comprehensive survey project of Barzroud valley and the buffer zone of Abyaneh historical village. Also in 2006 I was requested to survey the eastern part of Abyaneh village. In 2007 I cooperated in the organizing plan of Abyaneh village. Therefore I have worked in this historical valley for about 3 years fi eld study. Besides I have studied other adjacent valleys in the Karkas Mountains of Central Zagros and have tried to continue my study and investigation about this area. Barzroud valley is one of the most important valleys of Karkas Mountains of Central Zagros. This valley is located along Qom, Kashan, Yazd and Kerman old highway and is branched off the road toward west and foothill of Karkas Mountains. This beautiful valley consists of 6 villages including Hanjen, Yarand, Komejan, Barz, Tareh & Abyaneh. Historical and cultural values of Barzroud valley are unknown and hidden. Among these unknown characteristics, are various types of troglodytic architecture sites including human habitats, folds, ancient rock shrines, and burial holes. Evidence of life and residence in this ancient valley dates back to distant years. I suppose that unknown properties of the valley are much more than what has been distinguished up to now. In this paper, properties of these troglodytic architectures, relationships among them, their continuity from distant past up to now, functional changes, and their roles in environmental evolutions have been studied.