ARCHAEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION FOR BAM AND ITS CULTURAL HERITAGE. Eskandar Mokhtari (1), Mahamut Nejati (2), Narges Ahmadi (3) and Shirin Shad (4)

Transcription

1 ARCHAEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION FOR BAM AND ITS CULTURAL HERITAGE Eskandar Mokhtari (1), Mahamut Nejati (2), Narges Ahmadi (3) and Shirin Shad (4) (1) Director, Recovery Project of Bam s Cultural Heritage, (2) Deputy of Research & Technical Consultant, Recovery Project of Bam s Cultural Heritage, (3) Archaeologist, Recovery Project of Bam s Cultural Heritage, (4) Technical Office Manager, Recovery Project of Bam s Cultural Heritage. Abstract After the earthquake on December 2003, an appropriate basis was provided for the archaeological studies and researches. As soon as preparation of the world heritage nomination documents by Dr. Chahryar Adle, the archaeological subdivision of Bam Foundation concentrated on Rescue Archaeology.Considering to the particular circumstances of Bam explicitly: 1- Continues life from a mysterious time, which is earlier than Sassanid Period, 2- Insufficiency of the archaeological studies, 3- Recent "restorations" and reconstructions. Debris removal was inevitable; consequently debris removal was a prerequisite for the comprehensive and systematic archaeological studies of Bam. Considering to inexistence a unique method for the documentation of such debris removal processes, a new method which can be suggested for the same samples was organized. Keywords Bam, Archaeology, Cultural Landscape, Findings, Islamic and Pre-History 1. INTRODUCTION Though Iran is rich in architectural masterpieces and historical monuments and but it is obvious that Bam Citadel historical ensemble is "the most outstanding brick ensemble" in Iran. This ensemble consists of 16 separate monuments, each with its spectacular cultural features, together with tens of residential complexes in the public residential quarters and 769

2 particular fortifications for the royal quarters all used to present a fabulous example of Iranian people's settlement, which was vastly damaged in the earthquake on December 26, Though the demolition of this great brick ensemble, which attracted the most tourists every year, is considered as a disaster, it could also provide an ample opportunity for archeological studies. Destruction of parts of the Citadel-City revealed buried parts belonging to the past, which can make available loads of significant information. Thus, the way for archeological studies was paved after the earthquake. In the first stage, the studies were commenced by Dr. Chahryar Adle with the aim of preparing the case for inscription on the World Heritage List; later, the archeology team of the project continued the studies, concentrating on archeological studies on the debris removal, explorations and excavations in various parts and then archeological survey of Bam s Cultural Landscape. 2. AIMS As compared to the western part of Iran, the south and east has by far less been west of Iran. Yet we have little knowledge of how this link had been archeologically studied? Despite its important role in pre-historical and historical periods, one of those areas which have never experienced enough studies, is Kerman. It has functioned as a link between the great Khorasan and Indus Valley, south and south established and how it worked. One of the areas that can help resolve this doubt is Bam in Kerman. It has always been difficult for man in areas like Bam to obtain water and to get accustomed to the climate; thus, man's social life in such areas have always called for great efforts as well as great intelligence in manipulating available natural resources. Therefore, it is of great significance to study lifestyles of both prehistorical and historical and Islamic periods under the influence of such climate as Bam. Considering the evidences exposed by the earthquake and also the results yielded by the explorations carried out in various parts of the Citadel; it is essential to draw a solid conclusion based on the information and evidences obtained. Now that the post-quake debris removal has been accomplished; it is possible to study the chronological sequence of the unique Citadel-City ensemble due to demolition of the strata which were formerly positioned on one another. This could be carried out now before the beginning of restoration and reconstruction works, at lower expenses. 3. ARCHAEOLOGICAL STUDIES AND MEASURMENTS; Rescue Archaeology However the cultural heritage of Bam suffered significant damage from the earthquake, one of the most important adobe properties has been highlighted to all over the world through noting to the Qanat Technology the most outstanding of the area- with ancientness of 2000 years old. Before earthquake, it has not been done any studies and researches in Bam and justification of outstanding universal value was not clear to the world. After earthquake, Dr. Chahryar Adle provided all the historical and archaeological documents to inscribe "Bam and its Cultural Landscape on the World Heritage List in The Bam Citadel, one of the most important archaeological and historical properties of Iran had lost a large portion of the standing monuments. On facing the Rescue Archaeology, the activities and measurements were undertaken in different stages through the effort for inscribing process. 770

3 Base on the comprehensive strategy, three main actions have been done through the conservation of the monuments in Bam Citadel as: Removal the huge debris, Archaeology, Emergency Conservation. The huge masses of the debris, the consequences of the weight of the remains and influence the moisture through the foundations provided a special situation to rescue the monuments in Bam Citadel. The main archaeological activities are divided to four parts: Archaeological documentation for the debris removal, Boring and trenches in some parts of the site, Archaeological survey of Bam cultural landscape, Documentation of the findings, Making clear, appearance and recording the architectural layers in different sections of the site after debris removal Archeological Studies on the Debris Removal During the debris removal archaeological documentation has been the most important effort has been performed in the different parts of Bam Citadel (figure 1). It is drawn to the first steps of the archaeological studies and researches in Bam and its Cultural Landscape. Figure 1: Removal the debris from Bam Citadel The following workshops have been archaeologically documented: Pathways, Surrounding Walls, Sistani House, Jame Mosque, Main Gate, i Barrack, Stable, Mirza Naim School, Tekye, Ice House, Bazar, Castel, Caravanserai, Small Mosque, 771

4 Sabat House, East of Sabat, Bathroom, Shahr Bast Wall, Second Gate, Commander House, Tower no.1 internal parts, Third Gate, West of Sabat House, North of Sistani House, South of Stable, North of Small Mosque, East of Barandaz Caravanserai. As a result, at this stage the debris was examined and documented. Due to considerable amount of the findings from the debris removal process, the Center for Studying the Findings was established at the earliest steps. All the findings and related information were recorded and registered at this center. Among the most significant achievements of these studies, finding evidences of Neolithic, Calcolithic, and Bronze Ages, Achaemenian, Parthian, and Sassanid Reigns, as well as different Islamic periods is to be mentioned 2. According to the findings, the greatest number of objects belongs to Sassanid and early Islamic eras, and objects from 5 th and 6 th centuries AH, which are of the vastest variety and beauty, stand next. Also, finding the objects from pre-islamic periods dates the establishment of the city back to the Sassanid and Seleucid eras. Meanwhile, pre-historical objects found in various parts of the Citadel, and particularly at Jame [Grand] Mosque, suggest the possibility of existence of settlements inside the citadel and under these structures in those periods. Shards are discovered also evidence of well-developed local productions. As no particular methods had earlier been taken up for the study and documentation of debris removal, the method chosen could be recommended for similar cases Trenches and excavations After debris removal in some parts, the basis data was necessary to perform the conservation, stabilization and restoration measurements in Bam Citadel. On the basis of information could be decided how to work in each case. Solving ambiguity including sub grades, foundations and walls and distinguishing the plan and some limited surveying needed to achieve the appropriate results. These investigations were the first start for the serious research and approaches which have not been done before. Recognition of the elements leads the main results for the definition of the whole area. A good start would be represented through the recovery conservation in Main Gate, Barracks and Stable which have been trenched within the short and mid time actions; it was a good opportunity to concentrate on the other subjects. One of the main points did not only understand the time period of the building or intervention but also to response to the hypothesis about the whole complex. Surrounding Walls including Tower7, Tower1, wall between Tower 8 and 9 ii and Jame Mosque are the places that have been trenched basis this aim. 772

5 The places which have been excavated are the following:: The wall between Tower 8 & 9, Tower no.7 Jame Mosque Barrack Main Gate Stable Caravanserai Tower no. 1 Second Wall Tower no. 32 Small(or Piambar) Mosque Some results which have been yielded are as following: Tower no.7 After the debris removal, as some significant architecture works from the older periods of the Citadel were revealed, excavations and explorations were carried out to a limited extent in conformity with conservation works of the project. One of the most significant works was those done in the south of the fortification at tower 7, where exposure of remains of the original tower resulted in initiation of the theory which describes the Citadel as a Hellenistic ensemble. The excavations made available very important evidences of the process of widening of the original tower and its architectural shape as a large cube-shaped tower with embossed ornaments and with gun-port from Parthian and Sassanid Reigns. Also, remainders of stone pavement were found which raise the possibility that this part has been the entrance at its basic form (Hellenistic plan). To be added is the technique used to build the tower with its supporting walls, and with the use of massive amounts of sand and pebbles as a waterproof layer, and it s being located and built over a natural mound iii. It is of high importance to conduct further excavations paired with geophysical studies in eastern, western and northern parts with the purpose of leading the current studies on tracing of the pavement, supporting walls and finding the original entrance to a desirable result. Jame [Grand] Mosque After the debris removal at Jame [Grand] Mosque, which lasted around 11 months, explorations began with the aim of providing answer to some questions and theories. The most notable results of this excavation was discovering the pillars of Shabestni mosque [mosque with a porch], the original entrance and the stone pavement adjacent to it, as well as the remainders of one of the minarets, which depict the development of the architecture of this structure from a Shabestni to a mosque with one portico, and then with two porticos and a porch. Based on these findings, the mosque is considered as one of the Shabestni mosques of the early [Islamic] centuries. Discovering a pool-like structure to the northern side of the mosque also proves the existence of yet another pre-islamic building at this point. Besides, while the debris removal was underway, 105 pieces of shard from Calcolithic and Bronze Ages were found in the south east of the mosque, which belong to Bronze Age, and 773

6 are comparable to those found at Tele Eblis (Eblis IV Alibd pottery) and Tepe Yahya (Yahya VA). Considering the existence of these objects, it is possible to presume the possibility of pre-historical settlements in this area, which needs to be proven through further excavations Tower no.1 This stage of excavations has been commenced by a joint Iranian- Italian team iv since 2006; the perimeter fortification is currently being studied. Significant evidence have been found in this studies from the original structure in the form of a smaller cube-shaped tower, the directions of its widening, the developments of its architecture and also a cross imprinted on a brick which possibly carries proofs of settlement of Nestorians in Bam. The rampart between Towers no.8 and no.9 Another part explored with the purpose of recognizing the fortifications was the rampart between towers 8 and 9. In this excavation, evidence of the direction of widening of the rampart, its construction techniques, and its supporting walls were obtained too v ; the studies carried out on the fortification also need further geophysical examinations to yield perfect results. The Barrack Cleaning and explorations took place at the Barrack, which resulted in finding of a wide brick foundation over a bed of rock, discovering that the structure was built in three stories at points and unearthing parts of a workshop which was there prior to the construction of the Barrack vi. In addition to the mentioned works, cleaning work was also conducted at the fortification and the Second Gate with the cooperation of the French Team, during which evidences of architectural developments in this part as well as its buried brick ornaments were unearthed. On the other hand, parts of Bam water supply system was ruined while Oliyaii School was being constructed; the case was soon reported to the project and the remaining parts were preserved and cleaned. During the cleaning process, evidence of the unique water supply system in the early centuries as well as remnants of some stone tools from the Pre-Historic periods was found vii. Currently the excavations are underway at the Small Mosque of the Citadel, where evidences of the water supply system are unearthed viii in addition to other exploration works being carried out at Tower 39 ix Archeological survey of Bam s Cultural Landscape One of the most important approaches which have been started in Bam and its cultural Landscape is determining the limits, recognition the findings, the communications between the neighborhoods and also to reply some questions about the archaeology in the area as following: According to the archaeological finding and evidence, what type of the geographical limited consisted Bam's Cultural Landscape, What features are through the cultural settlements in Bam's Cultural Landscape due to the points of Landscape Archaeology, 774

7 How is the range of the dispersion of the prehistoric, historic and Islamic sites and the hills, What is the historical-cultural role of Bam Citadel in Bam's Cultural Landscape, What kind of connection are there between ecological and settlement sites and what is the main components, The relationship between the sites and Bam Citadel as a virtual monument and what are the common parameters among the sites. Archaeological investigation has been provided in two stages as follow: I. The first term (April, 2005): "Comprehensive Study of the Fault of Bam Area" is considered as the first term of archeological studies in Bam area (zre', 2005 and 2006). At this stage, the fault (Afraz) measuring almost 12 km in 1 km was intensively surveyed. Also, methodic, categorized sampling was carried out in a systematic way in the southern part of the fault. 8,559 potshards were statistically examined, from among which 1000 pieces were carefully chosen, designed and photographed, and registered quality- and quantity-wise. This collection represents a great assortment of shards from the historical period of Bam. Meanwhile, the settlement area belonging to Achaemenian Reign was separately studied (Atii, 2006). Among other achievements of these studies, the followings are to be mentioned: Mapping of three castles located within the area of the fault, Finding 3 inscription pieces of pottery, Finding pieces of some stone containers from the 2 nd millennium BC and Achaemenian era, Finding a bronze seal and significant samples of engraved shards, Definition of the area of Achaemenian, Parthian, and Sassanid settlements. II. The second term (January and February, 2005): In winter 2005, "Archeological Studies of Bam" were carried out in an area from the east of the fault to the west of Drzin, with the aim of recognizing the settlements of various periods as well as the most significant relics of Pre-History, History, and Islamic periods. The most important sites recognized in this term were: Pre-Historical site of Bidarn (covering an area of 350 hectares), Achaemenian site of Drzin (covering 5 hectares), Parthian and Sassanid sites of Drzin (covering 650 hectares), Parthian and Sassanid sites of Rahimbd (covering 30 hectares), Islamic site of Drzin (covering 1,350 hectares), Another achievement of this stage was finding and recognizing numerous unique brick architectural monuments of the early Islamic centuries in Drzin Design and establishment of data bank form the archeological findings One of the most important activities in Bam is registration and recording the findings through debris removal (figure 2). Increasing the multiplicity of the findings during 4 years, lead to make a data bank to documentation, recording and maintenance of them. Due to the significant of the findings and avoiding time wasting, the archeological findings data bank was established. 775

8 The activities in this center including: separation, statistic works, cleaning, typology and recording in data bank and establishment a museum. It can provide reliable references for the researchers to approach about the ceramics data bank and Bam Citadel and Bam's Cultural Landscape. Taking into consideration the constant increase of the findings; it proved necessary to build up an all-inclusive data bank for the center so as it could be used as a comprehensive, easily accessed archive for the further process. Figure 2: Archaeological findings To fulfill this aim, software titled data bank for finds was developed, and the data about 200 cases of the findings were added to it including: Categorization of archeological documents and reports after the quake till the present, Transferring and categorizing the data in the new hall of the research center. Another work already done at the research center in the past year is transfer of the data to the hall built for this purpose; the findings have also been categorized based on various workshops and parts, number of the findings and various types in the boxes; the data have been registered together with their IDs two separate sources of the index books and computers. Due to the diversity of the Bam findings on the one hand and the lack of the reliable information about the east south of Iran on the other hand, this center could provide scientific data for the researchers and archaeologists (figure 3). Through the activities, it has been registered more than 200,000 fragments which consequences from debris removal and boring the different parts of Bam Citadel. The findings belong to the Pre-History, History and Islamic periods show the cultural wealth and the former settlements in Bam area

9 Figure 3: Archaeology finding center 3.5. Cleaning, Stratography, and Archeological Studies after the Debris Removal One of the most significant actions carried out to a limit within the past few years, but was pursued vastly in the past year was the cleaning, stratography, and archeological studies which followed with the debris removal operation. After the debris process is removed from a given part, the remaining architectural elements are cleansed; then the structures that are gradually found are given a particular code, and are documented. After that, location maps are prepared for the groups of the findings such as the ones that are listed below: Architectural units or MU, such as room floors, attached walls, niches, underground chambers, evidences of the water supplying system (floodways, clay water pipes, down pipes), Units which cannot be moved or features, such as fireplaces and ovens, Layers or US such as sedimentary strata and occupied strata within the past year, Parts of the public residential complex have been cleansed, and during the process some blocked underground chambers have been discovered. 4. SUGGESTION For approaching the recognition of the different periodic times, it is necessary to continue the archaeological studies in the area in three stages: Continuing the archaeological studies about the Citadel- City of Bam to understand the plan and architectural changes in order to complete the recognition of the ancient time of the settlement in Citadel, Continuing the archaeological investigation in Bam- Narmashir Area to know the dispersion of the different sites and the period of time, Doing archaeological surveying in some known places like Tale Atashin, Bidaran, Darzin and the Bam-Baravat Faults to complete understanding about the settlements belong to the Pre-Historic, Historic and Islamic period. REFERENCES [1] Narges Ahmadi, field works, [2] Narges Ahmadi, Leili Sajadi,field works, [3] Narges Ahmadi, field works,

10 [4] Narges Ahmadi, Debris removal from Arg-e-Bam walls, Annual Report 2004 [5] Leili Sajjadi, under publishing, Annual Report 2008 [6] Torriery, Michael Yung, Narges Ahmadi field works, 2007 [7] Omid Yazdni, field works, 2005 [8] Fariba Motevalli 2005, Sirvan Mohammadi 2006-field works [9] Leili Sajjadi,field works, 2006 [10] Narges Ahmadi, field works,2007 [11] Leili Sajjadi field works,