Journal of Archaeological Studies

Study of the Development Process of Herat City During the Kart Dynasty, Based On the Survey of Developments in The Axis of Khiaban-Mazar-e Herat

Shahin Garakani Dashteh; Mohammad Mortezaei

Volume 16, Issue 2 , September 2024, , Pages 309-325

https://doi.org/10.22059/jarcs.2024.341280.143104

Abstract

Tomb Street (Khiaban-Mazar) is described as a complex where the tombs are located on either side of a passageway. “Khiaban-e Herat” (Herat Street) is also a cemetery with ... Read More

The Sham Valley and the Question of the Ilkhanids’ Religious Leniency in Northwest Iran (Jolfa)

Soraya َAfshari; Liliy Niakan; Behrooz Omrani; Mohammad Mortezayi

Volume 16, Issue 1 , February 2024, , Pages 1-23

https://doi.org/10.22059/jarcs.2021.323475.143018

Abstract

Archaeological inquiries into the Islamic period show both in quantity and quality that targeted and wide-ranging studies aiming to identify the pertinent monuments and sites have obvious ... Read More Archaeological inquiries into the Islamic period show both in quantity and quality that targeted and wide-ranging studies aiming to identify the pertinent monuments and sites have obvious limitations, and for this very reason our understanding of this time period is mainly limited to the information deriving from textual evidence. Accordingly, with the aim of identifying and studying the Ilkhanid sites on the banks of the Aras, a season of reconnaissance survey was carried out in 2019. Focusing on the Sham Valley region of Jolfa County on the border of the two Iranian provinces of East and West Azerbaijans, the fieldwork recorded 53 monuments and sites (Afshari,2019). Given the region’s strategic, geopolitical position in the vicinity of such regions of Caucasia, Turkey and Central Asia as well as its obvious location on major regional lines of communication, several different cultures flourished there spanning in date the second millennium BC to the latest periods. In other words, the foremost factor responsible for the formation of settlements was the region’s location on trade routes and its easy intra- and extra-regional communications, especially during the Ilkhanid period, which played a conspicuous part in the cultural evolution of the Sham Valley. Concurrently, given the region’s religious importance under the Ilkhanid rulers which echoes their religious clemency as part of their foreign policies, revealing data were obtained regarding the local social and religious structures in different periods, especially the era in question. In other words, the correspondence between the field survey’s findings and the historical texts make it clear that the Ilkhanids’s lack of religious prejudice, termed as religious toleration, was an upshot of a series of apparent and latent factors, which in general stemmed from the political orientations they adopted towards religious convictions (Morgan,2004؛ Torkamani Azar,1992 ). Recruitment of Christian females in the court (Bayani, 2011), employing Christian advisors and agents, maintaining contacts with Christian businessmen, missionaries and priests, and the particular attentions paid to the affairs of the Christian populations in Iran were all driven by the prerequisites underpinning their internal and external relations as it is evidenced by the fact that the changes in such relationships in the later Ilkhanid period would be associated with changes in the religious approaches due to political developments

An Archeology Study of the Identification of Ilkhanid Coins (A Case Study of Abu Zaid Ilkhani's Golden Coins Discovered from Tabriz Jame Mosque in the National Museum of Iran)

Orinab Nazarean; Mohammad Mortezayi; Arman Shishegar; Reza Shabani

Volume 15, Issue 1 , April 2023, , Pages 243-259

https://doi.org/10.22059/jarcs.2019.269224.142761

Abstract

Coins are amongst the most recognized and protected data in archaeological research. For this very reason, they are used as a basis for detailed analytical and methodical research to ... Read More

Position of the Jubara Qquarter in Historical Changes and its Influence on the Zone of Isfaha

Shahbaz Nouri Fesharaki; Mohsen Javeri; Mohammad Mortezayi

Volume 14, Issue 3 , October 2022, , Pages 195-218

https://doi.org/10.22059/jarcs.2020.284264.142737

Abstract

Esfahan is one of the cities that, despite its ups and downs, retains part of its historic texture and is relatively healthy. Two factors have contributed to the maintenance of the ... Read More

A Study on the Architectural Components, Semantics of Inscriptions and Decorative Elements of “Al-kart” Kings in “Gonbadkhaneh” of Sheikh-e Jam Complex

Faramarz Sabermoghadam; Haeideh Khamseh; Mohammad Mortezaie

Volume 13, Issue 3 , September 2021, , Pages 141-168

https://doi.org/10.22059/jarcs.2021.303864.142885

Abstract

Tomb sites, due to the prominent construction features, execution methods and decorative elements, account for an important part of the Iranian architectural patterns in the Islamic ... Read More Tomb sites, due to the prominent construction features, execution methods and decorative elements, account for an important part of the Iranian architectural patterns in the Islamic period in the group of burial buildings. Regarding to the fundamental importance of these sites, from a scientific point of view, research in various dimensions of their formation and emergence and comprehensive study is of great importance. One of the most important structural issues of tomb sites is determining the exact date of construction and developments that have affected their structures over time. The complex of Sheikh Ahmad-e Jam, in the city of Torbat-e Jam, which was founded by the will or to advance the governmental and political goals of one of the Khorasan mystics in the fifth and sixth centuries AH, is among the magnificent works of Iranian architecture and one of the most valuable historical sites in Iran. This complex have reflected a full image of Iranian-Islamic art and over time, has been one of the major centers of mysticism and Sufism in eastern Iran and the land of Khorasan. Despite this position and importance, many architectural features and decorative arts in this complex are still unknown and neglected.Among the buildings in the complex of Sheikh Ahmad Jam’s tomb, the dome chamber or solitary room (a place for worship), besides having a mystical and spiritual virtue for his children and grandchildren, one of the most important features of this building is the existence of a unique credential-narrative inscription of Al-Kart kings of Herat and a figure named "Gheymus" in it, and on the other hand, the focus of decorative patterns in the form of murals, inscriptions and paintings in various designs, has doubled the importance of the dome chamber of Jam’s tomb. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate and explain the architectural components and elements of this building by examining the concept and semantics of their array patterns. This research was conducted with the ultimate goal of obtaining answers to following questions. (1) Is the building of the dome chamber the same plain monastery of Sheikh Ahmad Jam, which was renovated by Sultan Sanjar after his death? (2) What justifies the existence of inscriptions and decorative elements in the interior space and their special concept and meaning? (3) Were the inscriptions and images written and drawn at the same period of time? However, in order to scientifically answer these questions, the research method and data collection of this study are based on documents and records, field studies and of laboratory tests and its approach is descriptive, comparative and interpretive analysis.

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Author = Mortezayi, Mohammad

Study of the Development Process of Herat City During the Kart Dynasty, Based On the Survey of Developments in The Axis of Khiaban-Mazar-e Herat

Abstract

The Sham Valley and the Question of the Ilkhanids’ Religious Leniency in Northwest Iran (Jolfa)

Abstract

An Archeology Study of the Identification of Ilkhanid Coins (A Case Study of Abu Zaid Ilkhani's Golden Coins Discovered from Tabriz Jame Mosque in the National Museum of Iran)

Abstract

Position of the Jubara Qquarter in Historical Changes and its Influence on the Zone of Isfaha

Abstract

A Study on the Architectural Components, Semantics of Inscriptions and Decorative Elements of “Al-kart” Kings in “Gonbadkhaneh” of Sheikh-e Jam Complex

Abstract