Introducing, Classifying and Compositional Study of the Luster Tiles from Kerman

Over a hundred pieces of luster tiles were excavated in Qal’eh Dokhtar, Kerman. This article discusses the characteristic features of the luster tiles of Qal’eh Dokhtar, and the origins and sources of raw materials of these tiles. The tiles were classified in four groups: “octagonal star tiles”, “crucifix tiles”, “square tiles” and “rectangle tiles”. Then, the relative dating was done based on an inscription on a tile that reads: in 661 AH/1263 CE. The inscriptions of the luster tiles of Qal’eh Dokhtar also showed that they include poems. Eleven tiles have been chosen for chemical and microscopic analysis by Micro-PIXE, and SEM-EDX. The results indicated that there are different elements in the luster and paste of the samples of Qal’eh Dokhtar and other regions of Iran. Magnesium is the element of which was detected only in the samples of Qal’eh Dokhtar at high weight percentages and likely its mines exist in Ashin Valley around Jiroft.