Reconsidering the Architecture of Shaikh Safi al-Din Ardabili's Shrine: New Findings in Archeological Excavations at Janat Sara Site

The Khānegāh or the Shrine of Shaikh Safi al-Din in Ardabil، north-west of Iran، listed as the world heritage site (by UNESCO) back in 2011 under the identification no. 1450. This ensemble is located at 38° 14´52/5«northern latitude، 48° 17´27/5˝ longitude، and altitude of 1365 above sea level in the center of city of Ardabil. The ensemble of Shaikh Safi al-Din is a well-developed prototype constituting social، religious، charitable، cultural، and educational functions. With range of versatile spaces، it has met the physical and spiritual needs of residents and pilgrims as such; it includes places to meet needs in fields of education and training، livelihood and healthcare. Relying on the diagram of De Morgan، it seems there are more than 67 spaces and courtyards attached to the Khānegāh، all of which have had a significant role in the training and educational philosophy of Safavid tradition. After decade of Safavid، most part of this magnificent structure damaged. F. Sarre، a German researcher، conducted one of the earliest studies on the architectural and archaeological history of Ardabil shrine in 1897. Some others such as Dibaj (1948)، Ali Akbar Sar-faraz، (1974)، Weaver (1974)، Morton (1974) and Seyyed Mahmoud Mousawi (1995-6) have also carried out researches on this subject in recent decades. Archaeological works of Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization of Islamic Republic also conducted a study under the leadership of Hassan Yousefi in 2007. These studies cleared so many unsolved historical questions about the general plan of the holy shrine.