Discovery of landmark building in center of Iran

EghtesadOnline: Archaeological excavations in the central part of the historical Fardeqan Castle resulted in identification of a landmark building gaining access to architectural and historical characteristics which demands wider explorations.

News ID: ۷۷۳۵۴۹

29 January 2017

The Public Relations Office of the Research Institute of Cultural Heritage and Tourism (RICHT) quoted head of the exploration team for the identification of the limits of Fardeqan historical castle Mohsen Karimi as saying prior to the first season of Fardeqan speculation no exploration had been conducted on this historical monument, according to IRNA.

He further remarked that in the summer of 1394 (2015) in the first season of speculation operations of the area about one fourth of a historical building, especially the eastern, southern and western walls of a four-sided column were unearthed.

Meanwhile, the archaeologist added, during the explorations two entrance doorways with an opening of 90x180 cm were identified in the southern wall of the building.

According to Karimi, the second season of Fardeqan explorations was accompanied by the study, analysis of aerial photos, drilling of experimental speculations, determination of the main area and limits of the historical Fardeqan Castle and privacy boundary of the main building in which its plan was prepared.

He said the main building is a square of 17 meters on each side in the eastern and western sides of which there is a 1.80x2.20 m doorway and in the western side three 90 cm, 1.80 m, and 1.40 m doorways. Karimi said that a four-sided column has so far been discovered in the southeastern side of the main building.

The head of the exploration team of Fardeqan historical Castle noted that according to studies and explorations conducted so far, there is a landmark building in the central part of Fardeqan Castle gaining access to architectural and historical characteristics of which demand further explorations.

He said so far and during two exploration seasons the area and boundary of Fardeqan Castle has been identified and the plan of the main building (fire temple) has become readable.

The historical Fardeqan village in located 50 km northwest of Farmahin and is a district of Khanjin in the city of Farahan, Markazi Province.

Saying that in this village there are remains of a historical castle in the center of which there is the main building known as Fardeqan Fire Temple, Karimi added that the span of the castle is over one hectare.

According to the archaeologist the architectural texture of inside the castle in different eras has undergone many changes and the present Fardeqan village has been shaped over the architectural texture of the past.

Speculations for the identification and determination of the limits of the area of Fardeqan historical castle in the city of Farahan in Markazi Province have been conducted upon permission of the Research Institute of Cultural Heritage and Tourism.

It should be noted that based on the studies conducted on historical texts, from third Hegira century reference has been made to Fardeqan and some historical events related to it. These references include Ibn Faqih Hamedani, writer of Mukhtasar al-Baldan and Mohammad ibn Qomi in Qom History (3rd Hegira century), Ibn Athir (6th and 7th Hegira century) in al-Kamil fil Tarikh and also Ahmad Tatwi (11th Hegira century) in Alfi History. In those texts reference has been made to Fardeqan Castle, the fire temple within it, its capture and destruction by the ruler of Qom in the year 288 Hegira, transfer of the golden door of the fire temple to Kaaba at the time of Hajjaj ibn Yusuf, defeat of Ala Ud Dowla Kakuya from Masoud bin Mahmoud bin Saboktakin and his asylum in the Fardeqan Castle as well as imprisonment of Avicenna in Fardeqan Castle. From among the texts related to geographical history Yaqut Hamawi has referred to Fardeqan in Al-Mo’jam al-Buldane.