Analysis, Typology, and Chronology of Stuccos in the Palace of Kuh-e Khwajeh

"Oshida Mountain" (Mount Khajeh) has been used intermittently in the Sistan Plain because of its unique strategic position. In the southeastern slope of the mountain, there is a fortress trace that became known as the "Castle of the Disbelievers" after the arrival and conquest of the region. Based on the relative chronology of the pottery specimens of the two settlements in this castle, the first period dates from the third century BC to the end of the Sasanian period, and the second period is from the sixth to the eighth century AH. In the present study that follows a descriptive-analytical type of research, the stucco casts of the Khajeh Mountain Palace, which are divided into three groups: circular, square and congressional are investigated on the basis of archaeological reports. There is no plausible history for these stucco designs and no comprehensive comparative study has been carried out; in addition to architectural studies, more than hundreds of stucco art from various historical sites have been observed, identified and compared. These artworks were found to be very similar to the plaster castings of Bishapour of the Sassanid era, Hajiabad and Kish. Another point to note is the addition of porches on the north side of the courtyard on which the Khajeh Palace stucco designs are mounted and they were certainly added during the second phase of construction and this embarks the fact that they were added during the Sassanid era.