A Research on Two Octagonal Domed Tombs of Keshit and Nask in Golbaf, Kerman

After mosques, tombs are the most important buildings of the Islamic period. Octagonal domed Tombs in the Islamic middle ages are more abundant than the early centuries of Islam. The evolution of quadrilateral domed tombs to octagonal domed tombs occur with the advent of the Seljuk and architecture developments in this period. Kerman province that was regarded as one of the most important centers of the Seljuk rulers, converted to the place of numerous tombs of sufis and elders in this period. It could be noted several examples of octagonal domed tombs in the Seljuk period that has been prevalent design of the domed tomb in this period. The existence of these buildings is interpreted with reference to local elders and religious figures. In fall 2011, during the archaeological survey to identify archaeological sites of Shahdad, Andohjrd and Golbaf in Kerman, two octagonal domed buildings were identified and recorded. These buildings are located in the village of Nask and Keshit in Golbaf, and have been built in connection with the village cemetery. Because, these buildings have not been identified so far, an independent research on their condition seems to be necessary. Golbaf city is located in 110 km south-east of Kerman province .This city leading from north to Kerman, from south to Bam city, from east to the Lut Desert and from west to the Rayen city. Keshit region has been prestigious residential areas of Lut Desert margins and the Golbaf city, that history of living in these areas is due to the abundance of water. Castle - Village of Keshit and its village with dating of late Islamic centuries, located in north and east octagonal domed tomb of Keshit. Keshit Permanent River clinging to the Castle - Village and passed from the east of historical context of Keshit village. Nask village is located about 1.5 km in west of Keshit village. Octagonal domed tomb of Nask is located among the wasteland with scattered shrubs of Kahur and about 300 meter in east of village. In addition, a castle of the historical period (Parthian and Sasanian) is located about 200 meters in north octagonal domed tomb. Accordingly, the main objective of this study was to determine the nature and function of these buldings, with respect to their historical and cultural context, and provide relative dating in comparison with similar samples. Methods used to achieve these objectives were based on description the current status and the peripheral elements of these buildings with detailed reporting, drawn map and taken photography from all directions and within them. Alongside above mention, have been used of written sources with descriptive and analytical method. The most important questions that made the basis of this study are:

1. What is above historical monuments dating? 2. What are probabley function and their identities, according to historical and cultural context of the region? Since these buildings were without any inscription, dating of them is difficult. Nevertheless can be raised hypothesizes: ​​1. Based on similar plans in medieval Islam, probably octagonal buildings of Keshit and Nask were made during the Seljuk and Il-Khanid period.

2. The buildings have been constructed in relation to religious figures and village elders. The core of the village cemetery construction was based on these buildings. The results show, based on the similarity of plan and decoration of these buildings with other domed shrines, it seems that the date that they have been built, is the same as Islamic middle ages buildings (the period). The octagonal domed tombs has been popular form during the Seljuk and IL – Khanid periods. The domed tombs of Keshit and Nask among local residents are known to the “Hasht – Dar”. By comparison the architectural plans, decorations and kinds of buildings materials used, with octagonal domed tombs of Seljuk, many similarities can be found between them. Although similarities exist between the domed tombs of Keshit with octagonal domes in IL – Khanid periods, But according to the history of area studies, similarities and proportions between this building with other octagonal domed tombs in Kerman region during the Seljuk period, seems more likely attributing it to these period. Relative chronology of octagonal building of Nask to the Seljuk period, expressing with more certainty. Because decorate style and it plans close to the Seljuk buildings. According to the above mentioned, the octagonal building of Nask is older than octagonal building of Keshit. Another remarkable point about these buildings is that graves buried simultaneously with construction of these buildings or after them, could be indicates their position as convent or similar a place to that. As regards many burials can be seen in the vicinity of both tombs, bring up the above possibility could be true, because nowadays numerous burial can be seen besides the monasteries.