documentation

Although documentation in the field of cultural heritage plays a pivotal role in the preservation, management, and transmission of knowledge related to tangible and intangible assets, such processes, as a key tool for identifying, evaluating, and recording various cultural and historical features and values, have received limited attention in various international instruments (such as charters, conventions, regulations, and recommendations). The lack of systematic documentation and recording of cultural heritage and the loss of data not only lead to irreparable damage to cultural heritage knowledge but also create challenges for conservation, restoration, and education processes. Therefore, this article seeks to clarify the position of cultural heritage documentation in the aforementioned instruments and to examine its tools and methods. However, the utilization of these frameworks at the national and local levels often faces challenges, including the absence of localized execution standards, a shortage of expertise in employing advanced technologies, and insufficient financial and educational resources. Methodologically, this article is based on a systematic analysis of international instruments related to cultural heritage. By employing a qualitative content analysis approach, it examines the position and emphasis of documentation within these instruments, along with its methods and tools. For greater accuracy, a correlation between key concepts and theoretical frameworks associated with cultural heritage conservation was established. The research findings indicate that, in general, international instruments emphasize the importance and necessity of documentation as a fundamental pillar for the proper preservation and management of cultural heritage. Such efforts enhance transparency in conservation activities and facilitate international cooperation, particularly in cases where cultural properties are threatened by natural or human factors. Some of these instruments highlight documentation as an integral part of education and research in the field of cultural heritage, considering it a means to transfer knowledge and experiences to future generations. This process, by providing comprehensive and accurate information, plays a vital role in preserving the authenticity, values, and sustainability of cultural properties at a global level and contributes to decision-making and policymaking related to cultural heritage.

The documentation of rural settlements, a crucial element in effective planning and management, requires a systematic and goal-oriented approach. This process involves the integration of various scientific disciplines and methodologies, applied meticulously at each stage. The present research aims to share the experiences of documenting rural settlements within the unique cultural landscape of Hawraman. The documentation process encompasses 3D mapping through photogrammetry, the application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and the development of a detailed building inventory database. Additionally, comprehensive surveys are conducted to analyze structural elements such as pathways, plans of key buildings, architectural details, and openings. This study not only introduces modern and practical documentation techniques tailored to the cultural landscape of Hawraman but also evaluates the strengths and specific capabilities of each stage within a step-by-step, integrated methodology. Collecting precise quantitative and qualitative data throughout the process is paramount, particularly given the unique and challenging conditions of terraced rural settlements. The methods employed aim to minimize systematic errors and ensure high accuracy. The documentation efforts are part of a broader initiative to support the inclusion of the Hawraman cultural landscape on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Data gathered from 20 rural settlements in the region have been consolidated into a comprehensive documentation framework, which serves as a valuable resource for future scientific research, conservation, monitoring, promotion, and sustainable development initiatives. The findings and methodologies presented in this research offer a replicable model for documenting other historical rural and urban settlements, providing practical guidelines for heritage conservation and management.

Persepolis, as one of Iran's most prominent archaeological sites, symbolizes the grandeur of the Achaemenid Empire's culture and art. The stone carving art and architectural ornaments of this era, drawing from the experiences and knowledge of various cultures, created a novel and artistic style that is evident in the stone reliefs of Persepolis. Due to the delicacy and precision of these reliefs, they have attracted the attention of many researchers, raising questions about their artistic values and execution methods. This study aims to analyze the execution techniques of Persepolis' reliefs by documenting examples of these reliefs on the eastern staircase of Apadana Palace and the northern staircase of the Treasury Palace. To document and create 3D models of the reliefs, advanced photogrammetry methods, with a particular emphasis on photo-scanning technology, were employed. Images were processed using specialized software such as Agisoft, 3D Zephyr, and Reality Capture. The results of this study reveal a part of the creation process of these artworks that has been less explored until now. Furthermore, the effectiveness of the photogrammetry-based documentation method in extracting precise technical and artistic data is confirmed. This method not only enables a more detailed analysis of the reliefs' intricacies and geometric proportions but also contributes to a deeper understanding of their artistic values and their place in the history of art. This approach can serve as a valuable model for future research in the field of documenting and extracting technical and artistic data from historical stone reliefs.

Documentation and recording of cultural and historical artifacts are among the most critical stages in their conservation and restoration. However, this essential aspect is often overlooked by conservators, museums, and collectors. This article aims to familiarize students and practitioners with the fundamental principles of documenting historical ceramics. Unlike resources that focus on teaching photography, lighting, or technical drawing, this work emphasizes practical and essential guidelines for the accurate documentation of ceramic objects during the conservation and restoration process. In the documentation of ceramics, the importance of recording information as the first step in conservation and restoration is emphasized. This process includes documenting the object's current condition, recording interventions performed, and providing a comprehensive report for future research and operational use. Additionally, this study presents a background on the development of documentation in the field of conservation, illustrating how this process has evolved into a global standard. Another section of this research examines the stages and details of documentation, including the recording of physical, chemical, and pathological characteristics of artifacts. This process assists conservators and restorers in performing more effective and precise work in their projects. Moreover, the documents produced during documentation serve as reliable and credible evidence, enabling more accurate reconstruction of the object's history, analysis of manufacturing techniques, and technologies used in the production of historical artifacts. These records can also serve as a foundation for future research in the understanding and preservation of cultural heritage.  This article seeks to enhance the knowledge and skills of documentation so that professionals can prepare comprehensive, accurate, and scientific reports for the future while carrying out restoration operations. The ultimate goal is to establish a foundation for sustainable conservation and valuable research in the field of cultural heritage.

The documentation of historical buildings is one of the most important issues in their study, conservation and restoration. From the past to the present, different methods have been developed for documenting such buildings. One of the most common methods in documenting historical buildings is architectural mapping or the preparation of measured drawings of historical buildings. For this purpose, traditional, manual methods or advanced digital techniques can be used. However, aarchitectural mapping alone enhances our understanding of the architectural model of the building but it cannot capture many other details, such as color, material type and texture, lighting and interior objects. Metric visualization, as one of the advanced documentation methods, provides detailed and precise information. This article introduces the concept of metric visualization and presents an example of its application as a sectional-elevation view of the Kolahdoozha House in Yazd, currently serving as the Yazd Water Museum. This method is based on precise architectural surveys and technical drawings, and the details and features of this visualization are thoroughly discussed in the article.

Plaster motifs in the architecture of the historical house of Boroujerdi have been used not only for decoration of the house but as symbols to convey certain concepts. The diversity used in these plaster works is very impressive and expresses the valuable architecture of its era in the city of Kashan. In many historical houses of Kashan, which mainly belong to the Qajar period, stucco motifs can be seen in different areas of the house. This grand house, the house of Boroujerdi, has one of the highest ranks in terms of the abundance and multiplicity of motifs. The main goal of this research is to document as much as possible about one of the most important arts of the Qajar era, plaster art. As the first step, we classified the plaster motifs Based on their form and design. Secondly, we counted the motifs and recorded their locations. Finally, we investigated the hidden symbolic concepts in each motif. The present research was conducted using descriptive statistics and content analysis based on field observations, and matching the data with the concepts obtained from library studies. In this study, various information-gathering techniques such as observation, survey, imaging, and coding were used. Our observation discovered a great diversity of plaster motifs picturing objects, plants, fruits, animals, people, and extraterrestrial beings (Jinn). In addition, there were some filling motifs in the background including Khotai motifs. We were able to find 450 figures scattered in 8 locations, including the entrance, alcove, the north side of the courtyard, the decorative gable, the main hall, and the east and west rooms next to the main hall. The motifs concepts were taken from ancient myths, religious beliefs, professions, and occupations. However, a number of motifs are also created under the influence of Western art.

The Sassanian bas-reliefs are among the most significant historical artifacts of ancient Iran, primarily found in the province of Fars. Approximately 30 Sassanian bas-reliefs exist in Fars, depicting scenes related to power demonstrations, court proceedings, and battles or hunting scenes. Unfortunately, many of these bas-reliefs have suffered damage over the years due to their outdoor exposure and the impact of climatic conditions. Depending on the type of stone and their geographical location, they have been gradually eroded. Given their historical importance for Iran's cultural heritage, a comprehensive program involving study, documentation, conservation planning, and restoration is crucial. The Naqsh-e Rostam Relief Complex houses more than 11 bas-reliefs and numerous inscriptions, all situated in open-air environments and vulnerable to environmental factors such as rain, wind, and temperature fluctuations. These elements have contributed to the gradual deterioration of these ancient artworks. The central question addressed by this article pertains to the process of studying, assessing damage, documenting, and planning the conservation of a rock relief. To answer this, a combination of field and laboratory methods has been employed, including petrography, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray fluorescence (XRF). The results indicate both physical and chemical weathering in the limestone structure, leading to various forms of damage such as erosion, flaking, cracking, and breakage. Therefore, protective and conservation measures for these prominent bas-reliefs should focus on strengthening and preserving their surfaces against deteriorating agents.

Augmented reality technology (AR) has provided many opportunities for researchers. AR has been used to reconstruct historical buildings that have been destroyed or have lost their original forms. Shahrestan Bridge, the oldest bridge in Isfahan, Iran, has had substantial changes in its form and function over the years. AR can reveal the original form of this building to visitors. This method can also acquaint visitors with the changes in the bridge over time. Purpose of the study: This study reveals the original form and function of this bridge by analyzing the available descriptive and visual historical documents for the first time. Also, identifying the locations of the main buildings around the bridge have been considered in this study. This article is based on library research and field study. First, descriptive documents were studied and visual documents were scrutinized, and then the 3D model was recreated based on the documents.  We have represented the original form of the bridge and designed an AR apparatus for displaying it to the general public on site. We have also identified the location of the architecture surrounding the bridge. Our study revealed that the arched spans of the bridge have gone through very few changes while the customs house and buildings near it have gone through major changes.

Cultural heritage is an invaluable asset to human beings that reflects their achievements over the centuries. The need to identify and protect cultural heritage is well understood, and experts strive to use every means possible to achieve this goal. Preservation and restoration of cultural heritage include conservation of historic buildings using all new technologies that are as effective as possible in maintaining the original condition. They are often associated with geometric surveying, surveillance, and heritage documentation. This article introduces the science of photogrammetry, types, tools, and techniques by reviewing and analyzing 20 reputable publications articles in the last five years. this article demonstrates the efficiency of this technology in the conservation, restoration, and documentation of cultural heritage by introducing some comparative examples in the present era. Documenting monuments is the first step to any intervention and planning. Architectural heritage photogrammetry is a helpful and standard process for obtaining accurate 3D data for documentation and virtualizing historical monuments.  Also is one of the most recommended non-invasive methods, consisting of techniques for interpreting, measuring, and modeling objects by the basis of images obtained from them. According to studies, the science of photogrammetry is one of the most widely used, cheapest, and most available non-destructive technologies in restoration science, and with the advancement of science, newer and more efficient tools and methods in this field are presented.

Water-mills, as ecological crafts, were not limited to the function of turning grain into flour but also brought about social relations, economic exchange, cultural contact, and people connection. The Kahak Water-Mill is an unknown building from the early Qajar period, located in the Marzdaran neighborhood of Tehran, as evidence of the lifestyle of ancient Tehran, Iran. Today, the development of Tehran has left the building abandoned, and the originality and integrity of the building have been damaged. This study's main purpose is to recognize the Kahak Water-Mill building in terms of history, function, and architecture. Literature reviews and field studies have been used to collect the necessary information. Kahak Water-Mill, as part of a complex, was an important place in Kahak village, and today, losing parts of that complex, including the garden and the connection of components such as the water with the mill, has blemished its identity and the complex with the damaged connections must be restored.

The vast expanse of the Persepolis World Heritage site and its three buffer zones, along with the numerous historical remains within these boundaries—including hills, sites, and various historical mines—have presented significant challenges for the registration, documentation, monitoring, and ongoing care of these cultural assets, despite enhancing the region’s historical and cultural capacities. Although the registration and documentation of the artifacts in this area have long been a focus of the Persepolis World Heritage Site, the sheer number of artifacts has highlighted the need for more advanced documentation tools and methods. Drone-based documentation was one of the selected approaches to expand documentation activities in this area, and a three-day conference and workshop were held to discuss related topics. The most important topics discussed at the conference included: the necessity of documentation, the role of documentation in global registration processes, flight regulations and legal aspects of drone-based documentation, and case studies of using drones for studying and documenting cultural heritage. These topics were presented by 20 speakers during the scientific program of the conference. At the conclusion of the conference and workshop, a six-point declaration was prepared, with the text drafted and signed by representatives of the institutions present. This declaration emphasized the need to pay greater attention to documentation as a tool for research, understanding cultural and natural heritage, optimal presentation, and preservation.

The spatial organization of the city is a dynamic organism, which continuously changes over time. Saheh as a social hub in the historic fabric of Isfahan is one of the components of historic spatial organization that has been transformed because of undue attention and nowadays it doesn’t play an important rolein the historic fabric. The aim of this article is the identification and documentation of Saheh with a further ambition to develop conservation principles as well as to redefine the role of Saheh in spatial organization of the historic city. The methodology is on the basis of a rigorous field survey and mapping, combined with the study of historic documents, and also interviewing with local residents, in order to understand the morphological evolution. Saheh in the historic fabric can be described in a range of roles and function. It is a public open space with a feature of flexibility and adaptability that has continuously changed over the passage of time.

Open spaces in historic cities of Iran, apart from their specific uses, have had special urban roles and organized the adjacent routes, buildings, and urban fabric. These spaces underwent numerous changes due to urban development and not only lost their functional roles, but also turned into urban problems in some cases. on the other hand, the lack of compiled studies and accurate documentation of these sites has made their preservation a serious challenge. This study uses descriptive-analytical and descriptive-historical methods in order to to present a standard model for the documentation of urban open spaces based on international guidelines (Sofia Charter 1996). to achieve that, open spaces in the historic city of Kerman, and specifically pamanar neighborhood have been studied and documented in this paper... It should be noted that many of these spaces have not yet been properly studied and have experienced many changes which makes their documentation necessary.The result of this study is a template based on an authentic international guideline that can be used to document urban open spaces.By using this template, scattered and unfounded studies are avoided. Moreover, the provided standard template can adapt to different conditions and facilitates information management in the preservation of historical fabric.

The architecture of residential spaces in Isfahan has put forward treasured examples to the world of art and architecture through history. House is one of the most important forms of the social organization of space in which numerous factors have been influential in its construction just like many other human-made complexes. Due to the changes in the recent century, historical houses are severely vulnerable to destruction, especially where houses constitute a significant part of the historical fabric of historical cities in Iran, including Isfahan. Modern development is one of the key factors in the destruction of and changes in the physical appearance of historical houses. They functioned as the identity-making element of the historical fabrics. Albeit they enjoyed many values including physical, functional and expressive aspects, they have been forgotten at present and sometimes become a crisis for a neighborhood. The result of disregarding the historical fabrics is to dishonor their historical and cultural identity. One of the worst destructions of the residential heritage of Isfahan is purposeful setting fire to such houses. After the demise of Allāmeh Olfat, his home has witnessed many damages and challenges. This house is one of the types of the Iranian residential architecture that in addition to physical values, enjoy unrivalled expressive and trans-physical indexes. This house was one of the cultural markers of Hassanabad neighborhood in the past, but it has become the least secure spot of the community at the moment. To achieve peace and security, the residents of the area endeavor to destroy this valuable heritage. Its destruction led in the disappearance of the dwelling pattern and its relevant culture. This research tries to explain the physical structure and function of Olfat House for documentation based on oral interviews, private and governmental archives. The main goal for answering the critical question is to provide scientific documentation of the structure by analyzing its physical and functional characteristics to clarify its values as an example of destroyed residential heritage of Isfahan. To carry out the project descriptive-analytical method has been employed aiming at the development and utilizing library sources, photos, maps, field studies, observation and interview. The collected data has been analyzed through a qualitative method by comparison and interpretation. The results reveal the physical and functional values of the house though studying the historical documents and comparing them with several contemporaneous historic houses in the same neighborhood. The Olfat House was of rare houses in the Qajar period which were equipped with a garden and bathroom.Moreover, there existed a unique system of connections among a number of the relatives’ houses through dead-end alleys and private passages. The life in the said house was in concert with Allāmeh Olfat’s extensive activities. His activities in the field of culture and sometimes production such as rose water production reveal the trans-residential functions in the house.

The Coastal area of Nazhvan is located at the riverside of Zayandehrūd River in the western part of Isfahan. In the gardens of this area which are mostly orchards, woodlands full of fruitless trees, owners have constructed architectural spaces and pavilions. One of the prominent architectural spaces within this territory is a mill known as “Asyāb-e Nazhvān or Hājjī”. There stands a two-floor pavilion on the eastern side of the mill, which is the case study of this paper. This mill is almost the only remaining practical mill in the city of Isfahan. The constructional techniques employed and the addition of the pavilion on the mill are unique. This study tries to scrutinize its structural components. The main spaces, comprising of a five-door chamber in center and two three-door rooms at its sides, stand in the first floor. Besides, some space for facilities such a storage room, kitchen and water closet can be seen on the same storey. There is a three-door room on the second floor which is entirely made of wood, and wooden doors and windows constitute its walls except the chimney and ceiling coating. Now the northern three-door room ceased to exists; therefore, a structural imbalance has emerged on the second floor which ruined the roof of the mill. The field studies reveal that the mill has been built and later this two-floor pavilion was added to it. The constructional timing of the mill and its pavilion needs an extensive discussion which should be done in another investigation. After this short introduction, the central question is “how has this two-floor pavilion been added to the mill and what kinds of techniques the mason employed to build the pavilion?” Besides, another noticeable issue is the method used to construct a lightweight pavilion to avoid any excessive load pressure on piers and foundation of the mill. Accordingly, the primary goals of this research are the examination of constructional techniques, (technology of pavilion), how it has been added to the mill, its lightweight construction and deliberate structural documentation of this property. Consequently, execution of this research provides a meticulous study of it which will significantly help to its conservation. Based on the field studies, the descriptive-analytical method was employed for investigation. In the end, the studies show that the piers of the pavilion on the first floor were not consistent with the mill’s piers.For the same reason, the architect has raised the piers of the mill to build the pavilion. Then, he made a network of poles. The roof of the mill was formed by a traditional method of lightweight construction locally known as “Kenu-bandī” to build an even surface for the first floor. Then after, the piers of the pavilion were installed on the network of poles. The architect tried to create a lightweight pavilion to avoid any extra load on the wooden system. In the same line, he constructed the second floor entirely with wood materials. Through this, the network of poles transferred the pavilion imposing load to the piers and foundation of the mill.

Hamedan with suitable climate has had great gardens. Unfortunately, many changes have taken place in the structure of city and many gardens have been added to the urban fabric for construction and a limited number of them have been rebuilt. Understanding the elements, reconstruction and rehabilitation of gardens should be based on scientific principles and integrated studies of the different of historical and cultural layers of gardens should be carried out. . As integrated studies on Hamadan gardens are not codified and on the other hand, the past and current situation is not documented, it is necessary to study and assess the reconstruction of their elements. This paper is based on the Charter of Florence and cataloging methods to study Nazari and American gardens in which there is an attempt to determine the spatial structure of the past and present through descriptive and analytical method in way of comparison and qualitative approach with a collection of documents, and the field work to answer these questions. What is documentation of Hamadan historical gardens to be used to rebuild them? How is the restored Hamedan garden structure evaluated on the basis of the Charter of Florence? How are different and common features found in the restoration and preservation of Hamedan gardens? The whole garden, garden characteristics - the physical structure of gardens – and garden history are document repertoires that should be taken into consideration in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of historical gardens. Studies of Nazari and American gardens show both gardens have been renovated on the present situation and not on the basis of Florence Charter. American garden has changed over time more and more. The greatest changes in both gardens according to data indexing method have been found are in the organization of the garden, building use the passage of time and the physical structure.

One of the most important deficiencies in reconstruction studies in Iran is the lack of information or documents about the previous experiences of reconstructed areas; meanwhile Iran is a vulnerable country to natural disasters which has experienced different reconstruction programs during the time. It is obvious that the documentation of previous reconstructions programs and surveying them can be useful and prevent similar mistakes. But, it should be declared that most of these information or evidences which can be used for the similar future programs are not gathered and also not available. The town of Qir which is located in south west of Fars province in Iran, experienced an enormous destruction due to the disastrous earthquake occurred in 1972 in the region of Qir- Karzin. Reconstruction program was arranged and implemented by the government based on relocating and constructing new town in a distance about 1.5 kilometers far from the old one. Evidences demonstrate that the government on this case had little studies to choose the location of the new town and also about the construction of the new houses. However; the residents moved to the new town and occupied the constructed units in the relocated town over the last forty years. Therefore, this study documents all evidences of the reconstruction process and surveys the reconstructed town in order to review this process and draw out lessons for future studies. This research is a combination of field- based study and analytical documentation using descriptiveexploratory research methodology. In this paper, information collection is based on surveying existing evidences like the reports of the reconstruction program or daily newspapers of the year 1972, in-depth and exploratory interviews with the authorities of renovation program and survivals as well as field studies with careful observation and sketching the built houses. Findings indicate that resettled town has little similarities with the old one. Residents of the new houses modified the built units due to space limitation as well as making gardens in the houses to make them similar to their conception of a house. It should be mentioned that some residents destructed the built units and some others accepted unfamiliar architectural forms of earthquake resident houses and kept these buildings in the region during the last 40 years. In addition, findings suggest that providing facilities following the reconstruction program had significant role in acceptance of this relocation by residents.

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.