Environmental Conditions and Vernacular Architecture of Amol «The Communicative Path in Sassanid Era and Early Islam: the Valley of Haraz River»

The ecology of Tabaristan region had been an impediment to provide a regularly communicative path and Haraz path is one of the oldest ones that had communicated the north of Iran to the central plateau in different periods. This study attempts to deal with archaeological data of this communicative path in Sasanian period and at the beginning of Islam. A descriptive-analytical method and scaling archeological investigation in region has been used in the study. The research question is that how the relationship of communicative path of the Valley of Haraz River in Sasanian period and at the beginning of Islam can be explained with sustainable architectural components and archeological works of region? The research hypothesis is that the environmental conditions (impassable mountains, valleys and rivers) and ideas of architects and designers had been considered as the main sustainable components in providing communicative paths, distribution and typology of architectural and archeological works of the Valley of Haraz River. The results show that writers identified the architectural remains of this path in theses villages: Lasem, Ira, Nava, Hareh, Wana, Bayjan, Aliabad, and behind the tunnel No.6 during field investigation; mainly, these villages have been located in mountainous areas and this road was not identified in plains and forested areas. The reason is hidden in the role of the geographical area of the investigated region because highlands of Amol have created hardships for Sasanian architects that led to show their skill.