A Study and Analysis of the Architectural Structure of The Grave of Ilkhanid Tomb of Tappeh-e-Noor (Soltanieh Zanjan) Based on archaeological excavations

The city of Soltanieh as a political center, the capital of the Mongol sultans, was built in 703 to 716 AH, 30 km southeast of Zanjan. The historical value of Soltanieh, in addition to the capital and its political issues, shows the tremendous progress of architecture in the Islamic era, in which various buildings, both public and private, have been built. Noor hill, one of the largest ancient hills in Soltanieh plain, is located 1500 meters south of Soltanieh dome. According to research conducted in different parts of Soltanieh, Noor Hill is one of the most important places and contains information related to the Mongol Ilkhanate period. The excavation was carried out in September 2009 on Noor Markazi hill and focused on displaying architectural works. The excavation results led to the identification of a tomb tower related to the patriarchal period. In the present study, the attempt to present the results of the excavation is to discuss the analysis of architectural structure and its chronology. Data collection was done based on field and library methods. Excavations in this area led to the identification of a tomb tower from the Ilkhanate period. This stone structure has a cruciform plan from the inside and a twelve-sided plan from the outside. First, the inside of the dome was made of stone carcasses and hemispherical gypsum mortar in the shape of a cross, with a vestibule-like entrance and a dome stem that is not currently available. In terms of architecture and decorations, this area is built with the tombs of the Green Dome Garden of Qom (Khajeh Ali Safi, North Dome and the tomb of Khajeh Asiluddin) and the tomb tower of Azerbaijan (three domes of Urmia, Kaboud Maragheh Dome), Baba Hossein Malayer Tomb Tower, tower He compared the tomb of Imam Zadeh Hood in Jazin, Hamedan, etc