Function Analysis of Man-made Caves Near Vartoun Hot Spring in Isfahan Province

Vartoun village is located 35 km North East of Isfahan County and is an administrative unit of Sagzi County. Karkas mountain range with a height of over 3000 meters covers North and West of Sagzi County as well as Vartoun village and a relatively flat plain covers other areas of this country. Villages and springs emerged in the margin of these mountains, which are considered the origin of contemporary nomadic people in these areas. During visits to villages and springs in this region, man-made caves were discovered in the margin of Vartoun hot spring. As far as we know, the man-made architecture has been developed in different periods and situations with various functions such as residence, refuge, warehouse and animal shelter. In this study, we first attempt to introduce spatial archaeology, architecture plan analysis, Annales school historiography approach and the collection of man-made caves of Vartoun hot spring in its historical-cultural context and analyze its application and creation time. Spatial and building material analysis as well as survey results of man-made caves in the historic-cultural context of Vartoun hot spring, given the therapeutic importance of hot spring and its long distance from nearby cities and villages, indicates a temporary residential use of man-made spaces before the Seljuks.