نشریه پژوهش های باستان شناسی ایران
پیاپی 15 (زمستان 1396)

During the Holocene Epoch and simultaneously with the Neolithic Period, weather variations caused wide-ranging changes in temperature and humidity of various regions. These together with geographical and climatic features, led to the shaping of special regional matching of Neolithic cultures. We have obtained most of our knowledge of Epipaleolithic and Neolithic sites from excavations in locations on coasting regions bordering the Caspian Sea. Obviously, feasibility of relationships and population and information transfer between the mentioned regions is a research priority considering the role natural geography plays in the shaping of and developments in human communities. Available data includes climatic information from various sources such as magnetic analyses and geochemistry, paleoecology, palynology, study of oscillations in the water level of Caspian Sea, and sequences of loess sediments in the Gorgan Plain together with archeological data obtained from explorations made in the region. Considering the importance of developments in and environmental potentials of the region and their relationships with domestication of plants and animals, attempts were made to answer these questions through comparing and matching data obtained from reviewing studies carried out on oscillations in the water level of Caspian Sea, studies on soil sequences of loess sediments, and studies on archeological findings in the region.The study region is the cultural-geographical area of Gorgan that refers to a triangle in the southeastern corner of the Caspian Sea. The base of this triangle borders on the southern end of the eastern coasts and the other two sides meet the Alborz mountain range to the south and the Kopet Dagh mountain range to the east. The most important geographical feature of the Gorgan area, in addition to the Alborz and Kopet Dagh mountains, is the Caspian Sea that is fed by river sources in Iran and Russia. Presence of coastal sediments is the other feature of the region, and these sediments are derived from the rivers and aeolian loess belts. One of the strategies for paleoclimatology of the region is the study of alternate oscillations in the water level of the Caspian Sea that has yielded various results. The Caspian Sea region has experienced numerous alternate advances and recessions during the years. Moreover, soil studies have also provided interesting results. The loess formation in the region is in the form of the hilly areas in Gorgan and results from aeolian deposits of the last glacial recession in the Quaternary Period. Rereading archaeological data of the region and matching it with ancient weather can provide us with important information. Classification of Epipaleolithic layers in the Hotu and Belt caves can be matched with ancient weather and be confirmed by advances and recessions of the Caspian Sea. The present conditions indicate that the region faced hard and harsh conditions at the start of the Neolithic Period. Evidence of deep gaps between dating of the Hotu and Belt caves and evidence of plant and animal domestication and of pottery, and accumulation of aeolian loess sediments are among the available reasons for confirmation of population transfer. Another reason supporting this claim is that the Pokerdval area in the Gorgan Plain with materials and pottery of the Neolithic Period, that have great similarities with the oldest samples of the Tappeh Sang-e Chakhmagh and the Hotu and Belt caves, lies one yellow layers of loess that probably match the second advance of the Caspian Sea during the Holocene Period. Therefore, this set of information shows that cultural and technological developments in the human communities of the region strongly depended on conditions imposed by the environment, and severe environmental fluctuations necessitated continuous population movement, which caused infiltration of cultural material beyond geographical borders and created the relative homogeneity between the potteries attributed to the Jeitun Culture. Based on present documents, population mobility was one of the features of this region in Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene Periods.

The intermontane Zibri plain encompasses an approximately 120 Km2 area in the northeast of Islamabad-e Gharb Township in the northern part of the Central Zagros. As a small case of Zagros ecosystem, The Zibri Plain is divided into two parts with significant differences in topography, water resources, Framing and grasslands. Althogh, this plain had already surveyed by foreigner and Iranian expeditions but for the first time, we conducted an intensive systematic survey in this narrow plain in 2010 and 12 sites is discovered that related to the four sub-phases of Village Period. In the present study, due to its special natural characteristics such as locating between Mahidasht and Isalamabad plains Zibri is discussed as an instance of settlement Analyses in the Village Period of Central Zagros. The relative chronology of Village Period’s sites of zibri plain has been acquired of 38 potsherds from Neolithic Period that had compared with similar samples of contemporaneous sites of Central Zagros which have absolute dating occasionally. In Pre-Pottery Neolithic Period (PPN) isn’t found any settlement in the Zibri plain and it seems that arrival to this plain occured in the Initial Village Period (Early Neolithic). All settlements in this Period are located in the “fertile Area” and focal point with the dominant features of farming lands. This Survey shows the strong dependence on fertile farming lands especially watery places around the plain which indicates on agriculture as the main subsistence strategy and limited pastoralism. The findings of early Village Period are discovered from Three sites. Farrokh Khani region was fully settled as one of the most fertile region in this period. Like the previous period, the settlement distribution of this period is depended on natural factors including agricultural lands and natural pathways. The sites placement adjacent to fertile lands and focus on particular places in the plain indicates the continuity of farming subsistence in the Early Village Period. The Study shows that the discovering potsherds from the Middle Village Period have been acquired from 11 sites, and the Amount of the sites as well as their dimensions is increased in three and half times more. In this period, some dispersed sites is appeared at unoccupied areas indicated that the settlements is distributed for the first time. These patterns show that %27 of settlements is located in the Fertile Area and the others are thoroughly inside of. In the Middle Village Period, we deal with two different types of settlements: the first group is located where is adjacent to Water sources and alluvial land with capable of irrigation and the second, sites which are situated in high pasture slopes, rocky lands and unfit to be irrigated. The factors of Site distribution are depended on grazing lands, natural routs, water resources and agricultural lands sequentially. A random dependence on agricultural lands and pastures is quite clear in this period. In the late Village Period, the number of sites that settled is 5. Such as the other regions in Central Zagros, the rate of permanent site’s growth is decreased that shows the decline of natural population growth. The percent amount of settlements inside the fertile area is %80 that is distributed between agricultural and grazing lands of this plain equally. The settlement pattern has clear signs of a concurrent dependence on agricultural lands and grazing slopes. These signs explain that the plain’s dwellers have depended on sedentary-based pastorals and have some efforts to find pastures or settlements between farms and pastures. In due to lack of cultural materials in Zibri Plain, the authors couldn’t be able to study the subsistence of Nomadic Pastorals. Also in the Late Village Period in the Zibri plain, we could say there are two different groups of sites in this period, such as prior period.

Experimental studies to analysis of Iranian prehistoric pottery lead to our more detailed knowledge about its production and distribution. Among these, pottery related to Bakun period during fifth millennium B.C. on the Geographic region of Southern Zagros and Fars province is an important phenomenon to understand the expansion of culture in the Kur River Basin at Central Fars and its dispersal to Northern borderlands on the Semirom district. Typically, this pottery is painted and has buff color paste, which it seems that made with high skill on the complex developed kilns. These wares are quite consistent with clean paste and no visible inclusions, painted in colors ranging from dark red through brown to black in a complex variety of patterns on a smooth surface. Many sherds are slightly green with shiny black paint as a result of over firing. Forms include a range of open ring based or flat based bowls, conical and straight sided beakers, and a variety of pots and storage jars. Based on the importance of materials, we selected 10 pottery sherds from the excavated archaeological site of Tal-e Mash Karim to experimental analysis. Tal-e Mash Karim is located at the Semirom district, Southern Esfahan province, generally linked to archaeological cultures of Fars region. As a result, by the analysis we are going to find pottery making’s technology of early societies on the one of small intermountain valleys of Zagros during the Middle Bakun (Gap) period (around 4600-4300 B.C.). Tal-e Mash Karim is a small mound, covering an area of c. 0.5 ha and rises to a height of c. 2 m from the surrounding land and situated at the altitude of 2360 m above sea level on a highland plain. The excavation was conducted in 2014, involving investigations of three trenches, called A and B, each measuring 5×5 m., comprised the main excavation area of the central part of the mound, while Trench C (2 × 1 m), was opened to test the stratigraphic sequence of A and B. The experiments include two methods (1) Petrography analysis and (2) X-Ray Florescence (XRF) analysis that is delivered to laboratory of Research Center for Conservation of Cultural Relicts (RCCCR). Based on Petrography and also geological studies at Semirom district it could be said that the pottery assemblage of Tal-e Mash Karim has a type of internal and local production that has been assigned to people of these settlement or other sites of this region where is produced the Bakun vessels. Beside the collected painted fine sherds, there are some coarse plain samples with two colors horizontal sections. All samples have greatly blank voids, which are included numerous organic inclusions on the external side of sherd as temper. There are two textures of silty and porphyry. Except the samples of 7 and 8, the results show that the all samples haven’t firing temperature more than 800 C°. Geological Studies at the Semirom district shows that the sediments and altitudes of this region have the Calcite mineral elements which are visible in the pottery composition. In the samples of 4 and 7, the type of Calcite is Dolomite, which has been eliminated by heat. Thus, dominant phenomenon on the samples is composition of Hydroxide Calcium and Secondary Calcite mineral composition. Based on the XRF analysis, the composition of Calcite mineral elements on the pottery show the lowest amount of Oxide Calcium in samples 8 and 9, while highest amount is occurred in the samples of 10 and 11 that these completely match to Petrography results. The comparison of XRF results of Tal-e Mash Karim with Tappeh RahmatAbad’s XRF Analysis on the 26 Bakun sherds show that their internal production is accompanied with 950 C° to 1050 C° firing temperature. Consequently, the samples of Tal-e Mash Karim fired at lower amount than Rahmat Abad.

The south Makran area is located in south of Sistan & Baluchistan province and includes the cities of Nikshahr & Chabahar. Research done in the Makran region, all are cross-linked to a specific location, and generally are summarized in preliminary report to the Heritage Foundation. However, through the systematic archaeological surveys of the Nikshahr city, the researchers have been identified the pre-historic sites, and also attempted to collect the pottery index, but no specialized study is done yet. On the other hand, we can obtain valuable data in connection with the formation process of human settlements in different periods, with more intensive research in this area. These data, on the one hand, can investigate and determine the relevance and role of this land on the cultural interaction in whole Plateau of Iran, and on the other hand, reconstruct the cultural ties with other Eastern lands, especially with Indus Valley in third millennium BC. Shirazi has been studied this area of Sistan and Baluchistan in an Archaeological survey framework. 44 ancients’ enclosure were found in NIKSHAHR, during this study that indicates the richness of Third millennium BC establishments in this area. The area of southern Makran is located in the south of Sistan and Baluchestan province. This area has been archeologically studied at two steps by Rouhollah Shirazi in accordance with archeological study of Sistan and Balouchestan province. One short study done in 1381 solar year by which some archeological areas were identified, and did once more in 1387-88, 1389 that was comprehensive and regular study by which many archeological areas have been discovered. By sampling taken from bronze age lots in NIKSHAHR, 227 pieces of potteries were found. Due to the variety and number of the samples, and in order to better and more identify potteries of prehistoric period of Makran it was determined that the samples must be studied more carefully. Thus, during this study, the typological comparison of potteries was made, based on a theoretical-comparative study. One of the most fundamental ways to understand the interactions at the prehistory is to study potteries. Hence, the authors firstly are tried to identify the relative chronology of Bronze Age areas in southern Makran and secondly to study the regional and transregional interactions in southern Makran with places like areas across the bank of Halil Rood river, Bampur, Shahr-i Sokhta and settlements of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Then, we studied these samples carefully, and now, we have presented the result of studies in this paper under the title of “Comparative Study of Potteries of Bronze Age in Southern Makran”. According to these studies and analyzing reports and comparing important samples in southern Baluchestan with neighboring areas, we conclude that the southern Makran had expanded regional and transregional relations with areas in south-east of iran like, Bampur, Shahr-i sokhta, Damin, Yahya, Khurab and Rood-i Biaban and areas in Afghanistan like, Mundigak, Gardan Reg, and areas in plain of Kech in Pakistan. Also from the chronological aspect, cultural periods of Bronze Age in southern Makran has the largest overlap with I And IV periods of Bampur. The results of the statistic reports from pottery’s samples of south Makran in the third millennium B.C. shows a vast relation between this area and the banks of HALIL ROOD, Bampur, Shahr-i-Soukhta, and the lots such as Mundigak and Gardan Reg in Afganistan and also some lots in Baluchistan of Pakistan.

Archaeological evidences emphasizes Central Iranian Plateau as one of the important region of Iron age studies. Tepe Sofalin is an important Protohistoric site in north of Pishva, east of Rey plain, Tehran Province. But the archeological evidence shows the use of this site in Iron Age, too. During excavations at this site a number of single and scattered Iron Age’s burial have been discovered. We know, the Bronze Age culture does not suddenly disappear. In fact, culture changes very little in the first half of second B.C. This may suggest that there is no significant cultural break throughout the entire region at the beginning of the Iron Age. Primary burial and grveyard practices slowly appears in this era. However, in the Iron age period numerous settlement and significant sedentary or nomadic society! occupation started. A similar pattern also seems to have occurred in the Iranian Plateau. New excavations show that Central Iranian Plateau had continuity from late Bronze age to Iron age. So, this article provides an introduction to Iron age’s burial and their grave goods from Sofalin. The burials are single burials in earthen graves. the burial lies in the fetal position. This type of burial style continues into Iron II and III. Tombs architecture are simple rectangular structures without elaboration.Most characteristic of vessels are formas red, buff and grey ware, forms dipper juglet, jars and storage. The bangles tend to be tappered than bangles dated to the end of Iron II. These later examples are heavy looking. In this research, the burial and their grave goods as a part of Iron age’s societies in central Iranian Plateau exploring and discussed. The main question of this research is how was relationship the burials traditions of Sofalin with other sites in eastern Iron age’s societies in Central Iranian Plateau, Varamin-Pishva plain. The contribute to the emerging picture of the nuances of early and middle Iron age subsistence strategies on the Pishva plain. Preliminary studies on findings of Sofalin site is show that dispersion style of traces and Iron finds more has been focused in the southeastern part of this site. Style of burial is to form of squat and recumbent on flank. Graves is to form of oval cache and without any architectural structure. So far, from the Tepe Sofalin hasn’t been achieved any evidence based on settlement or big cemetery during the Iron period. Cultural finds based on species, decoration, and ceramic and metal forms from the burials and also, surface finds achieved from this site and archaeological surveys in area of study is proves Iron Age I to III. Indications exist of preparation graves are to form of flooring, beaten of grave space, and also, muddy encrusted in burial numbers 1, 2, and 3. Bronze arrow found above the burial, can proves a warrior of buried (burial number 1). Exist of multiple votive objects of terra cotta (burial numbers 2 and 3), and exist of extensions decorative of metallic as: ring, bracelet, and ankle jewelry (addition to that represents the ritual and spiritual), based on small amount grave objects can show the social rank of the deceased person.

The little Zab River originates in the mountains of northwest of Piranshahr city, north-west of Iran, and flows from the northwest to the southeast until it joins Iraq. This river goes through the Zagros Mountains and in the past, the Assyria Empire connected to peripheral areas such as Lake Urmia on its north and Iranian plateau on east. In the vicinity, there are a lot of ancient and historical sites. The study shows us that more sites of first millennium B.C. is located in the north of Basin. This region plays an important role Between Assyrian and Mennaean. This region on the west connects to the north of Mesopotamia via the Haji Omran defile. Thus, the survey is done due to the importance of Zab River in the formation of the Settlements, the awareness of settlement’s numbers, its location and how to connect with the main sites. In the result of Archaeological survey, 16 sites of ancient settlement have been distinguished that 12 of them is located in the north of basin and 4 sites are situated in the south part of Zab basin. The site of Rabat that is one of the most important Mannean sites lies where the ancient route is passed through and has come to Assyria and Babylonia on westward. The site can be dated to the 8th/7th centuries B.C. and its findings are closely related to that from the contemporaneous sites such as Qalaichi, Ziwiye or Hasanlu. Rabat Tepe is most likely belonged to the Mannean realm. Also, the numerous military campaigns and intrusions of both Assyrian and Urartians Empires in NW-Iran are indicatives of its vital roles that this region has played in power games between Great Empires. From the middle of the 9th until the end of the 8th century, the Urartian areas in Iran were not attacked any more by Assyria for almost 150 years. It was only during the reign of Sargon II of Assyria that the Urartian and Assyrian came into conflicts in Iran again. The reason is that the Urartu Empire interfered in the affairs of the kingdom of Mannea, which Assyria is considered it as a tributary. In 714 B.C., Sargon II, the king of Assyria, conducted a major military campaign across the Zagros Mountains into western Iran. During the campaign of Sargon II in 714 B.C., the numerous cities and fortifications were mentioned in the region and probably, Tepe Rabat may be one of them. In the year of 714 B.C., the Sargon II’s Eighth Campaign into the region is led to an intensive defeat of Urartians which the Urartian dominant on the eastern, southern and western regions around the Urmia Lake came to an end and so, they only dominated the north of the Lake Urmia. For this reason, any Urartian epigraphy had not been found in this place after the year of 714 B.C. The first half of the 7th century is when the Mannaean Empire seized the power in this area and during it, its realm was expanded more than ever, and Urmia plain was dominated by Mannaean. However, at this time, this sphere is where the borders of Mannaean, Assrian and Urartuian are come together. In the 9th century BC, in the time of powerful local governments including Mannaean, Gīlzānū and Hūbūshkia, Gerde Soreh has probably been the last Urartian place in this area. Among the sites of the north, Shin Abad and Pasveh had the huge and massive wall that was more than ten hectares and could be consistent with Ancient Hūbūshkia, Gīlzānū and Musasir respectively. More recently, efforts have been made to locate Musasir close of northern Zab basin, Iraq. Also, the excavations of Shin Abad and Pasveh could be have very useful information on this topic.

The metal working is an ancient art. There are evidences that, already millennia before Christ, metals were known and used. Knowledge of using metals in manufacturing various objects is one of the oldest technologies in ancient time. It is proved that many Ancient iron objects are helding at museum of worldwide were found from different archaeological excavations. In the history of ancient metallurgy, Iran is one of the important regions and many of metallic collections have been found from the different periods of Iranian historical sites. The origin of using metals in this country dated back to 9000 B.C. The evolution of the metal processing depends on several: chemical, physical, technological etc. The initial metals were produced via working on the metallic material that there were in the nature as natural mode. Afterwards, with the introduction of the possibility of melting down the metals, they passed to Copper, Bronze and then Iron age. The usage of iron in metal’s production is so important insofar as it has even given its name to an era, exactly “the Iron age” that, started of the First millennium B.C. and continued until few years ago. Once ignited the fire, it was fed by an opposite ventilation to increase its temperature that did not anyway exceed 1,200 degrees and then in sufficient to liquefy a steel. Vice versa they obtained a reduction of the Iron oxides in practically pure Iron, which at the end of the process appeared as a spongy mass mixed with scales and slags. It started at this point tiring process of forging and successive heatings of the mass separate Iron form impurities. The result was very mild steel, easily workable, called also “wrought Iron”. Nowadays, defining of characteristic of anceint metals is a vital issue for researchers. Identifying the different features of materials, producing methods, etc are the main subjects in the studying of ancient metals. From varied aspects, the microstructure of Iron Artifact is an important question. Conservation seeks to preserve as much evidence about the past as possible without alteration of the original fabric or form of the artefact. In this article, the microstructure of five ancient metal objects have been studied with microscopic, metallographic and SEM-EDS methods. Identifying microstructures of the objects and their manufacure methods are the aims of this research. Samples included two nails and one Iron blade and one Iron lancehead and one blade that have been collected from Pahlooj site (dated to Sassanid) and Lafoorak site (dated to Iron Age III) respectively. These sites are located in Lafoor region, Mazandaran Province, the north of Iran that have been excavated under rescue excavation in 2008 (1387 H.). The aim of selecting these samples in two adjacent sites that belong to two different periods is to study the possible differences or similarities of producing techniques and utilization of iron for making objects. Samples were selected form the sites of Lafoorak and Pohlouj in terms of geographic coordination. Microscopic observation and elemental analysis of these objects is representing the high purity of Iron in structure of used ore. Long and round inclusions with high abundance of Fe, O2, Si elements have been distinguished as main structure in all samples. Moreover, other elements have been identified. These elements considered as impurities in inclusions and incompleteness in manufacturing of objects. In microscopic pictures, distinct grain sizes of ferric structures with diffused inclusions in different proportion are seen. These differences are considered as a result of hot and cold working with forging on the objects. In contrast with other samples, one object with needle shape and martensitic structure has been observed. Overall, all of the evidences are in line with producing wrought Iron in manufacturing the objects in ancient times.

Cultural exchanges between the Empire Elam and Mesopotamia led to create similar masterpieces of art, especially in art of sculpture. In many works of arts of this period, a sign of respect to God Elder has been shown in the various forms of Sculpture. One of the valuable objects of Elamite period is a bronze helmet with three small decorative figures on the front side that belongs to the Reza Abbasi Museum. This object is similar to the famous helmet that is storef in the Metropolitan Museum of New York. This bronze helmet is purchased from a private collection and transferred to the museum. The surface evidence indicates that silver is used in the manufacture of these figurines. Surface of applied metal in this figurine is darkening that caused by corrosion and also remaining evidence of the golden layer can be seen in small areas. No specific and coherent research has yet been done about this object. According to this article, a scientific study has been done by using optical and scanning electron microscopy with elemental analysis system (SEM-EDX) that its aim is analyzing this special object to study the techniques of production and material which is applied in making of this object. Comparative studies have shown that the helmet dated back to the middle Elamite period. Worship and prayer mode can be seen in three small decorative figurines on this helmet. Middle figurine has large eyes that introduces a state of superhuman power. In two hands of longer figurine as a God Elamite is a vessel that has two threads of water running from its sides as the water of life which is the symbol of life. On either side of head of middle figurine, long braided hair can be seen which is common only during the middle Elamite period. Two smaller statues are wearing clothes with horizontal folds to be drawn on the ground and there are ornaments like fish scales on a longer figurine clothes that show art aspect of the middle Elamite period. Former elemental analysis using X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) on the main side of helmet shows that the main body of this helmet is made of tin bronze with casting and Hammering methods. Scientific studies with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) that is an analytical technique used for the elemental analysis or chemical characterization of a sample shows that bitumen used in the body of three small decorative figurines. Based on the results of distribution of gold and silver elements by EDX, this organic material that is decomposed during the time, covered with gilded silver metal. In mercury gilding or fire gilding with use of mercury as an amalgam or glue for coverage by gold leaf, heat is used for removing mercury but the results of elemental analysis layers on the organic material of main body of sculptures with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), has not shown residue of mercury. So, amalgam method is not used to create gold coating on the surface of silver. Instead of it, scanning electron microscopy images represents the application of gold leaf with heating method on the surface of silver coating of three small decorative figurines and the result of this thermal process is diffusion of gold in silver layer. In this case, the sheet or foil directly used onto the surface and mechanical connections are heated. So, diffusion bond of gold and substrate connection is established. Internal diffusion in scanning electron microscopy has shown good connection between the gold and metal background and gold loss in many parts may be due to the weakening of structure of silver caused by corrosion. Decorative nails around his helmet in some areas have metallic luster but in many cases, covered with green copper corrosion products and is made of silver alloy with some copper.

Mohammad Taghi Khan Bafghi was the ruler of Yazd at the time of Zand dynasty, where He built the garden of Dolat Abad for his family inside the city of Yazd. For making the garden more prosper, he dug an underground qanat in the name of garden and endowed it to the fourteen innocent persons in Shia Islam. According to the remained deed of endowment, Dolatabad subterranean water was originated from the city of Mehriz which was located in thirty-five kilometers of southwest of Yazd. Most scholars such as Professor Iraj Afshar, believed the oldness of the underground qanat dated back to two hundred years ago and its length is totally 70 km. Several groundwater streams in the city of Mehriz had been interconnected and after irrigating this city flowed to the city of Yazd by an underground corridor from 35km distance away. This groundwater was used by people in Abshahi and Khorramshah sectors in the city of Yazd and finally was irrigating Dolatabad garden. The main question is if Dolatabad qanat was built totally by Mohammad Taqi Khan or he had changed the name only and direction of Qanat after repairing and restoring the previous Qanats? After doing some researches on the written heritage of the Qanats such as local historical books of the city, archeological investigations and direct observations it is clear that the time of building of Qanats came back to the period of Shah Shuja Mozaffari (Al-e Mozaffar) government. It is seemed that first there was a Qanat in Baghdadabad village which is the name of a section of the city of Mehriz today. Seyed Roknadin bought half of the shares of it and endowed it for Rokniah School. At this time with the order of Shah Yahya Mozafari, Bagher Abad Qanat was added to the other Qanat, Baghdad Abad in the city of Mehriz and it was sent to Fath Abad village (Deh nou) and then Naeem Abad village (Abshahi) for drinking and irrigating lands. This Qanat which was called Abshahi after irrigating Naeem Abad section, moving a mill with the name of Tabuk then the rest of the water was flowing to Ezabad garden. At that time there were willow trees from Abshahi district to Ezabad garden. This stream was the reason of greenery of this area. In 860 A.H, a flood came to the city that ruined this stream and the trees. Although the direction of Abshahi Qanat from Mehriz to Abshahi district got remained healthy. After the years and at the time of Mohammad Taghi Khan reign, two Qanats is dug with the names of Taghi Abad and Dolat Abad. These two Qanats were using for the needs of Dolat Abad residential garden that actually was the central place of his government. Digging Qanat was expensive therefore he used his power and took Abshahi canal to bring water to Yazd. Mohammad Taghi Khan for preventing problem claiming of locals distributed the share of water of Baghdad Abad district from the origin and bestowed one fourth of the Water of Dolat Abad garden to Dolat Shahi district. Actually, third forth of water of Dolat Abad garden was going underground at the point of Tabuk mills and was coming on the surface around Dolat Abad Garden. Therefore, Mohammad Taghi Khan besides repairing qanat of Abshahi by adding the length of it used the water of qanat for prosperity of Dolat Abad garden and was the reason of change in its name. Also, two fridges in the names of Khorramshah and Dolatabad existed in the city of Yazd; they were being filled from the water of Dolatabad Qanat. Both of them has been destroyed about thirty years ago. Another point is that this Qanat after irrigating the garden was circulating a grinder of a mill then was continue to Jannat Abad garden and its length undoubtedly had been more than 70 km.

Entrances are important parts of buildings; which are made in the forms of door and portal. Nowadays, it seems that the methods of making and decorating of these parts have been changed. On the other hand, with categorizing, reproducing and recognizing of traditional methods in making and design of doors and portals, it’s possible to revitalize the cultural and architectural identity of historic cities. The question that this research is investigated is: how is possible to categorize the doors and portals in an urban ancient structure? The case study of this research is historical structures of Rasht. Rasht is one of the oldest cities in the north of Iran that is progressed in Safavid dynasty. Hitherto, the population of Rasht and its borders have been increased and changed. Nowadays, this city has historical structures where are located in the center of Rasht basically. As regard to the question of this study, the goal of the research is “compilation of the necessary criteria in order to the Categorizing of the doors and portals of a historical structures and its comparing with the historical sturctures of Rasht city”. The present information of this study is collected based on pedestrian survey is done by the author and has been accompanied with taking photography and library studies. At first, a framework is defined to separate the making’s methods of doors and portals and its different forms. This framework suggests the functional, decorative and proportional charecteristics of doors and portals. Functional features include the factors of the building’s function and materials of doors and portals. Decorative traits are composed of the accessories of doors, colors, symbolic motifs, designs and inscriptions of portals. Proportional charecteristic encompasses the frequent dimension and proportion of doors and portals. According to the political, social and technological developments that have been occurred in Iran and specially in Rasht, it is possible to separate the important historical periods in four sections: historical period (Qajar and its predecessor), classical period (1920 to 1960), the transition period (1960 to 1990) and the later period (1990 onwards). Moreover, it could be classified the design’s methods of doors and portals to six types in historical buildings of Rasht: Qajar dynasty and before based on its historical type, years of 1920 to1960 based on the simple and hardworking traditional species, the period of 1960 until 1990 based on integrated and imitative kinds and finally, recent decades based on the modern types. The comparison of these types according to the defined framework shows that due to changes in economic, social and technological customs, the making methods of the traditional doors and portals have gradually declined to week and superficial methods and is converting from a place to a blade during the times. Through the time, the use of glasses and vents in doors have increased. Morever, the inscriptions of portals have nearly outdated and in comparison, in the past times is being more brief, simple and industrialized. Along time, the conceptual and doctrinal richness of the used motifs in doors and portals have decreased and have transformed to vacuous, brief and functional ones. In the recent decades with the prevalence of personal vehicles, the dimensions and proportions of traditional doors have got about two or three times wider, namely in term of width. The final result of this study indicates that through the time, due to gradual economic, social and technological changes, the doors and portals’s manufacturing methods especially have declined to weakness ones and have been changed the building’s threshold from a place to a barrier.

Persian Garden has been formed as a result of interaction between humans, nature and also physical space. Morever, Persian Garden is a reflection of social and cultural dimensions of a territory. Geographic location, climate, historicity, integration of natural and artificial environments has been led to mystical and cosmological order in develop of Persian garden. Therefore, the study of different insights and viewpoints is necessary in investigation of Persian gardens. Hence, some particular approaches are open to interpretation of Persian garden. The goals of this study are: First, identifying the mentioned approaches and their charecteristics; second, hypothesize a comprehensive model based on existing approaches and third, applying the constructed this model in this case study. In First step, the related literature review has been done in order to recognition the mentioned approaches and their characteristics. The results led to identify three main approaches through the literature review, includes: 1- The philosophical approach; 2- Historical approach and 3- Physio-natural approach. The garden is the witness of the initial ideas and manifestation mystical concepts in the mystical-philosophical approach which considered a figurative aspect, the transcendental and cosmological order of the garden elements. Historical approach is expressions the garden as an objective phenomenon and rely on historical documents. The focal point of historical approach is concentrating on historical features in the gardens. Therefore, the reliable historical evidence and documents are the major source of knowledge to identify and explore the past of the garden. The Physio-natural approach emphasizes on garden establishment pattern in the context, physical order, configuration of plants, water and architecture and its connection with environmental factors in the context. Also, the climate conditions are considered as one of the serious factor. In the second step, the comprehensive model was configurated based on combination of identified approaches. Normally, scholars have conducted the researches on Persian garden based on different approaches which embraces its own methodology. Restoration, regeneration and protection methods could be achieved through the review of such inquiries from the past up to present. The aforementioned methodology embraces information gathering, analysis method which it will be lead to identify suitable strategies for garden protection, restoration or regeneration. Historic gardens intertwined organization of natural and cultural values which has created a unique entity. Consequently, the recognition of gardens requires considering four main Physio-structural, social, cultural and natural dimensions. Thus, identifying historic gardens and documentation requires a comprehensive model which is repetitive of four dimensions and theirs subsidiary. The suggested model should be able to enlighten the relationship of garden with its context. It means that the model should integrate all physical, structural, cultural and historical aspects and the surrounding area in whole. Preventing serious damage to valuable historical heritage in the process of restructuring is another important consideration in this model. Therefore, suggested model is formulated based on a combination of historical and Physio-natural approaches. According the new model, historical inventory and documentation is the first step, the second step is focus on Physio-natural dimensions. The result will be integrated to determine the proper strategy for restoration of historical garden. In third step, the suggested model applied in the Historical garden of Neshat in Firouzeh city nearby ancient city of Neishabour. The historical garden of Neshat is one of the traditional gardens of Iran and dated back to the late Qajar and early Pahlavi epoch, is located three kilometers far from the Firouzeh city and 20 kilometers far from the Neishabour in the northeast of Iran. This method is performed by historical inventory through documents and historical books, old pictures survey and memories of survivors and field observations. In the following, Physio-natural survey performed. The result of historical and Physio-natural investigation is integrated. The result led create the restoration plan in order to revive and protect degraded landscape according to historical documents. Finally, the detail of restoration of garden is presented.

There are numerous properties remained from the past. Up to now, about 34000 historical-cultural movables, immovable, intangible, natural and documentary evidences of heritage have been identified as national heritage in Iran. Also, sixty cases from them have been inscribed as the heritage of humanity in different lists globally. A noticeable part of the mentioned heritage is alive and working and some dated back to several centuries ago such as Nowrouz Celebration, Yalda Celebration, culture of Vaqf, Story-Telling and Narration, Abarqū Cypress, Sangān Cypress, the Sycamore of Maddrasseh-ye Bāghvār (Bāghvār School’s Sycamore), Masjed Jāme-ye Esfahan, Kashkān Bridge, Qanat of Gonābād County, Matting of Masjed Jāme-ye Meybod, Carpet of Sheik Safi Mausoleum, Pulpit of Masjed Jāme-ye Abyaneh, the book Al-Tafhīm by Abu Rayhān, deed of endowment of Rab‘-e Rashīdī. Approximately, another half of the ancient identified properties have been abandoned and many of them have been completely destroyed and nothing has been left for us expect a number of names that include such as palace of Shāh Abu Ishāq Injū who desired to construct a palace similar to Ctesiphon in the city of Shiraz, or Kāshamar Cypress which was cut by the order of Motevakkel, or carpet of Negarestān or Bahār-e Khosrow which was laid in Ctesiphon. What have been left for us as barren tangible properties are relics of settlements, buildings, and furniture. Nowadays, these are all considered as a part of cultural heritage that hold national trust and are significant importance in terms of scientific, historical and artistic points. At the present time, vaqf heritage constitutes a large part of the Iranian cultural heritage including immovable, movable, intangible, natural and documentary heritage. Endowments are mostly properties for public use for example mosques, schools, hospitals, orphanages, caravanserais, bazaars, public baths, water reservoirs, mills, farms, gardens, books, chandeliers, street lamps, carpets, tools and instruments. Most of endowments from the past are active and functional among which may date back to more than a millennium. In comparison with ordinary properties, endowments have been less destroyed, seized or distorted. Although many numbers of them have been wasted except their names that have been mentioned in deeds and documents. This means that vaqf heritage is survivable in spite the fact that it is susceptible of destruction. What kind of mechanism did vaqf heritage, in general, and endowments, in particular, keep safe against destruction and annihilation? Regardless of difference and diversity regarding period, geography and religion, vaqf enjoys some changeless fundamentals, and moreover, even the elements of the composition of deeds of the endowment are relatively similar. Examination of historical experiments of vaqf proves that there exist almost identical procedures in the safeguarding of the endowments and there has been no basal change through the course of time or different religious atmospheres in the said procedures. The authors of the article have tried to investigate a large number of deeds of endowments which have been mostly written in Persian language and belong to Iran. And generally speaking, except some minor differentiation, we did not find any noticeable difference in the examples under study. Finding answers to the mentioned questions would furnish us with our anscestors’ attitude and behavior toward endowments as well as their motivations to safeguard them. Such information will pave the way for more scrutiny and comparison of the past measures with the methods, basics and principles of modern times which we use to keep cultural heritage safe. This may provide us with a dialogue between “historical mechanism of endowment safeguarding” and “the basics of safeguarding of cultural heritage”. This paper aims to study and find the factors that take care of vaqf heritage and its historical mechanism.