Jajarm Palm-Rolling Ritual

The palm-waving ceremony, which has a long history, is held in most parts of Iran during the mourning period of Imam Hussein (AS) during the months of Muharram and Safar. The palm-waving ceremony in the city of Jajarm is held in a manner specific to this region, which has led to it being registered as a special ritual on the country’s list of national intangible cultural heritage.

The palm tree is often made of wood or metal and is shaped like a tent, with horizontal wooden poles installed underneath so that mourners can carry it. The palm tree is covered with green or black cloth embroidered with religious writings, including the word “Jalalullah” and the blessed names of the five clans of A’la, and religious poems. At the tip of the palm tree, flags resembling war spears are also installed, which are called “teighe” in local parlance. Religious poems mentioning the events of Karbala are engraved on the blades. During the Sukwari ceremony, two people riding the palm tree place the symbol of severed heads, which is in the form of two fruits, an apple and a pomegranate, on these blades.

In the Jajarm Palm-Rolling Ceremony, two types of palm trees are used in the mourning ceremony: one is the public palm tree (the large palm tree) and the other is the peasant palm tree. Each palm tree is led and managed by one person, and the movement of the palm tree towards the stream of mourners is the responsibility of the people who carry it on their shoulders and move it.

The path of the palm trees in the mourning ceremony of Imam Hussein (AS) is such that after passing through the main streets, the palm trees enter a square called Husseiniyeh Square. After the ceremony, the palm trees (large palm trees and small palm trees) enter Husseiniyeh Square first, followed by the cradle of Ali Asghar (AS), the women’s cymbals, the drummers, and the flag-bearers. After the palm trees enter the square, the movement of the palm trees accelerates, and the mourners accelerate their movement, holding green flags and chests, the women’s cymbals, the drummers, and the cymbals, running barefoot after the palm trees. The movement of the palm trees takes 4 to 5 rounds in Husseiniyeh Square, and after that the palm trees are placed in their places, and after this ceremony, people go to the graves of the dead and martyrs of Jajarm located in the Mahziyar Jajarm Paradise.

The ritual ceremony of palm fronds was registered on the regular list of intangible cultural heritage of the country on 28/8/2011 under number 255.

Music of the Bakhshis of North Khorasan:

Bakhshi music is played in the northern regions of Khorasan, including the cities of Bojnourd, Shirvan, Esfarayen, Quchan, and Dargaz, and with slight variations in Turkmen-populated areas such as Jargolan. This music differs from the music of eastern and southern Khorasan due to the presence of Kurdish and Turkish tribes in the northern region of Khorasan, and its distinct Kurdish and Turkish characteristics are evident. Bakhshi often perform in Turkish, Kurdish, and Turkmen, as well as other Persian dialects common in the region. This performance is not limited to special ceremonies, and Bakhshi performed music in most social situations, especially during celebrations and celebrations, and in the past, even during mourning ceremonies. This is why music has found a special place in the lives of the people of this region and is intertwined with the fabric of their lives. This music is in the realm of performance and is passed down orally from generation to generation.

Bakhshi are among the most important musicians of the northern Khorasan region. Storytelling and narration along with playing the pleasant melody of the dotar, singing and reciting are among their arts. According to the folklore and popular culture beliefs of the people of northern Khorasan, not every dotar player is a bakhshi, and in fact, a bakhshi means someone whom God has blessed and bestowed upon him and whose moral qualities and spiritual perfections have transformed him into a distinctive individual. According to these traditions, a bakhshi must be able to sing, play music, compose poetry, tell stories, and make and tune his own instrument. Hence, the term “bakhshi” not only includes the musical skills of the dotar players and their knowledge, but also refers to the special respect people have for the “bakhshi” and his social status, which is a common feature of the musicians of northern Khorasan and the Turkmen of the Sahara.

The musicians of North Khorasan are divided into two main groups: Ashegha and Bakhshi. Ashegha are mostly from Kermanji and play the serena, qeshme, dehl, dayare, kamancheh and ney. Their main job is just to perform local music and dance. Among the best Ashegha of North Khorasan are the late Ali Abchouri and Hossein Babi.

The Bakhshi of northern Khorasan are similar to the Turkmen Bakhshi in many ways. In other words, for various reasons, it can be said that the Bakhshi of northern Khorasan have been influenced by the Turkmen Bakhshi. Among these reasons are the existence of common stories and narrations among them, as well as the similarity of their dotar instrument, and the similarity of some of the ways of playing the dotar. The way of playing the dotar of the Bakhshi is more similar to the Turkmen dotar playing than to the dotar of eastern Khorasan.

The intangible cultural theme “Music of Bakhshi of North Khorasan” was registered on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding on the National Heritage List on 2009-05-31 under number 35 and on the UNESCO World Heritage List on November 16, 2010.

Traditional Turkmen music:

Music in Turkmen has deep roots and is a special cultural bond of Turkmens and a distinctive and valuable characteristic of them. In their music, Turkmens always recount the suffering and pain they have endured. Their music and songs are full of cries, complaints, and heart-wrenching laments. Turkmen music is performed in four instruments: Makhmos, Qarq Lar, Tashnid, and Navai.

The intangible cultural heritage of “Turkmen folk music” was registered on the regular list of the country’s intangible cultural heritage on December 1, 2009, under number 91.

Turkmen Aq Qoyun Ceremony:

The Aq Qoyun ceremony, a celebration held at the age of 63 among the Turkmen tribes of Raz and Jarglan counties in North Khorasan, is called a rite of passage in anthropological literature, meaning the passage from one stage of life to another, similar to a birth or marriage ceremony. Turkmen men and women perform this spiritual ceremony at the age of 63 to rid themselves of sins. In this ceremony, there are signs and symbols that are white. In many cultures, white is the color of purity, for example, a 63-year-old woman wears a white scarf on this day and a 63-year-old man wears a white turban. The ceremony is accompanied by a banquet and preparations are seen in it. If someone cannot afford to hold this ceremony, they cook the special food of this ritual, which is rice pudding, which is called “Swed Lash” in Turkmen, and take it to the local mosque before the Maghrib prayer so that the worshippers can eat it and pray. At the end of it, a Mawlid Khani ceremony is held with the presence of the mosque’s clergy. This ritual is held in one of the months: Rabi’ al-Awwal, Rabi’ al-Thani, Jamadi al-Awwal, and Jamadi al-Thani.

Turkmen dagger dance (Dzhikr Khanjar):

The dagger dance (dagger recitation) is actually an artistic, martial and theatrical performance. It is accompanied by harmonious and rhythmic movements that have a special effect and splendor. In the performance of this art, which is performed collectively (usually not exceeding 5, 7, 9 or 11 people) and in traditional clothing and daggers on the waist, it has a dhikr-like state and a mystical interpretation. The content of the poems deals with the remembrance and praise of God and the divine saints. Natural monuments

Natural monuments

Old Nazarali poplar tree

Description of the condition of the work:

This old tree has a diameter at breast height of 245 centimeters, its canopy area is 582 square meters, and its age is estimated to be about 300 years. In terms of appearance and considering its species, this tree has a very thick trunk that is subject to internal rot and its effects are clear on the trunk. The internal rot is present from the base to the part where the branches branch off the trunk of the tree, and this has caused rainwater from the crown to enter the hole created in the trunk, flow downward, and collect on the trunk at its base in the form of a beautiful hole of water. According to the landowner, one of the branches of the tree, which was dry, broke and fell due to a storm, and since it was considered sacred to the people and them, due to their religious beliefs, they buried this large branch underground with the help of an excavator. This old tree is located at the end of Nazar Ali village and is surrounded by garden and agricultural lands. This old tree is one of the rare trees in Iran due to its great age and the type of species that has been able to adapt well to the climate of the region. Therefore, genetic studies on this species are recommended for its improvement and reproduction. According to the opinions of experts from the Research Institute of the National Forests and Rangelands Organization, this old tree is probably the oldest poplar in Iran and therefore can be registered on the World Heritage List.

Old Juniper tree

Description of the condition of the work:

This old tree has a breast diameter of 270 centimeters, its canopy area is 271 square meters, and its age is estimated to be about 2700 years. In terms of appearance and considering its species, this tree has a very thick trunk and wide and extensive roots on the soil surface. This tree is located on the slopes of Kunjekhor Mountain and inside a habitat of juniper trees with different diameters. This old tree has a long and sturdy trunk that has grown from a height of about 3 meters to 3 trunks and has spread around. Therefore, given its great age, it has been able to adapt well to the climate of the region and is one of the rare trees in Iran. According to experts from the National Forest and Rangeland Research Institute, it is one of the 3 very old trees in Iran, so genetic studies on this species are recommended for its improvement or propagation, and it can also be registered on the World Heritage List.

Tree name: Ancient Juniper tree (Arche) Garmeh

Description of the condition of the work:

This old tree is located in a barren area that is part of national lands. According to field surveys, there are no other trees in the plain around this tree. This tree has a diameter at breast height of about 213 centimeters and its age is estimated to be about 2100 to 2300 years. The size of its crown covers 194 square meters, making it easily recognizable from a distance due to the size of its crown and the surrounding open space. This tree has a ritual value among the people of the region, which is expressed in the form of tying green cloth around the trunk and branches and also driving nails into the trunk. This old juniper tree has rotted from the inside, and for this reason, a hole has been created inside it that can be seen from the crown to the base of the tree. According to surveys, no traces of seeds were observed on the branches or around the tree, and it seems that this old juniper tree is a single-stemmed male.

Old plane tree, Ketli

Description of the condition of the work:

This old tree has a very thick trunk in terms of appearance, which has been completely split in half in the past due to frequent fires. The space created is large enough to easily fit a patrol car. Inside the western trunk of this old tree, there is a beehive, which, according to local information, was used in the past to extract honey from this trunk and disperse bees from the fire. A spring located about 100 meters east of this tree passes under the western trunk of the tree. Due to its great age and the type of species, this old tree has been able to adapt well to the climate of the region and is one of the rare trees of Iran. Therefore, genetic studies on this species are recommended for its improvement or propagation. According to the opinions of experts from the Research Institute of the National Forests and Rangelands Organization, this old tree is probably the oldest plane tree in Iran, which is why it can be registered on the World Heritage List.

Old walnut tree in Espakho:

Description of the condition of the work:

Currently, this old tree is in good condition due to the owner’s attention and care, including irrigation, pruning, and pest control. This old walnut tree produces an average of about 300 kilograms of produce annually, which has decreased in recent years due to water shortages and droughts in the region and severe cold. The land where this old walnut is located is a garden plot with other walnut trees around it. This old tree, due to its great age and its species, has been able to adapt well to the climate of the region. Due to its special characteristics, the Espakho walnut is one of the rare trees in Iran and therefore has the potential to be registered in the list of national monuments, and genetic and environmental studies on this species are recommended for its improvement or propagation.

Tree name: Old burnt plane tree of Hassanabad, age: 350 to 400 years

Description of the condition of the work:

According to the locals and quotes from the ancestors, the old plane tree of Hassan Abad village had a single trunk, which was burned and a large part of it was destroyed by fire, but after a while it was revived and became its current form. Currently, this old tree has 3 trunks, whose diameters are 181 cm, 107 cm and 149 cm, respectively. In appearance, two trunks of this tree are connected by a butt, and at their junction there is a hole measuring 40 ×40 centimeters can be seen, but of course, due to the filling of the hole and the surrounding area with soil and gravel, only this much of the hole is visible. As mentioned earlier, the inside of these two trunks is empty due to internal rupture, and traces of burning and charcoal are completely visible inside these trunks and at the location of the above hole. There are agricultural lands around this tree to the north and west. To the east of this tree and at a distance of about 4 meters from it, an asphalt road and the entrance road to the village can be seen. A narrow stream passes by this tree at a depth of about 3 meters and a distance of 2 meters, which is of great importance in providing water to this old tree. On the bark of one of the trunks located in the north direction. In the winter of 2010, due to a flood, the soil around the tree in the western part was washed away, and for this purpose, a rescue operation was carried out by building a coastal wall, which according to research, seems to be the first time this has been done in the country.

Tree name: Old Shoqan plane tree, age: 300 to 350 years

Description of the condition of the work:

This old tree has a diameter at breast height of 207 cm and its canopy area covers 337 square meters and its age is estimated to be 350 years. This tree has a thick trunk that is rotten from the inside and its traces are clearly visible on the trunk on the eastern and northern sides. This old tree is located inside the main square of the city, which is locally known as Pachnar, and was built about 6 years ago. According to local information, in the past, the city’s spring water passed by this tree and there were gardens around it. However, today, due to urban development and the growth of the residential area, Shoqan has become a city and the tree is located in the center of the residential area. Given the relatively large space of the square where the tree is located, people often gather inside and next to the square. Due to its great age, this old tree has been able to adapt well to the climate of the region, and therefore genetic studies on this species are recommended for its improvement or propagation.

Tree name: Hesar blackberry Age: 150 to 200 years

Description of the condition of the work:

In the south of Bojnourd, in an area known as the Hesar Lands, there is an old and very beautiful blackberry tree. In terms of its appearance, this tree is 0.5 meters high, its trunk is open from the middle and its branches are spread out to the sides, and in some places, due to its large diameter and large canopy and as a result of its weight, the branches are located inside the soil. The blackberry tree usually has little annual growth and, based on calculations and measurements of the tree’s diameter, it should be about 250 years old. Given that the blackberry tree was from suitable roots and had high vegetative power, it was able to grow a lot, which indicates the very high genetic potential of this tree. According to local research, this tree has a special place in people’s religious beliefs and is called the Seed. Currently, this old tree is in good condition and is producing large, black fruits. The average diameter at the tree’s chest is 160 centimeters and its canopy area covers 118 square meters.

Tree name: Dagdagan Qara Nodeh Age: About 300 to 400 years

Description of the condition of the work:

About 1 kilometer southwest of the village of Qara Nudah and 200 meters west of the asphalt road, under a rocky cliff, there is an old Dagdaghan tree. This tree has an almost cylindrical trunk and signs of internal decay are visible at the base of the tree. Despite this, the Qara Nudah Dagdaghan tree is in good condition these days, and its dense, green leaves and orange fruits indicate the health of the tree. This tree is located on a rocky mountainside and around it are other hawthorn and Dagdaghan trees with diameters of 30 to 50 centimeters. 3 of the main branches of the tree have broken due to internal decay and their marks are visible at the fracture site. From the marks on the ground and the stones sunk into its base, it is clear that the soil around the tree has been washed away due to erosion and floods caused by the mountain slope. The diameter of the tree is about 107 centimeters and its canopy covers 94 square meters.

Name of the work: Prophet Ayyub’s (PBUH) hot spring

Description of the condition of the work:

Ayub Peygham Hot Spring consists of a series of springs that boil from the earth and flow on the surface. The temperature of the spring water is about 36 degrees Celsius. The spring water is in the form of a pool with an area of ​​459 square meters and an average depth of about 1.5 meters. The natural flow rate of this spring is 5.9 liters per second, and currently, the residents of the region and people who are aware of its mineral properties use it for swimming and recreation. At a distance of 5 meters from this spring, there is a cold spring for drinking water, the water of which enters it from the northern corner of the pool, which can be felt as cold as the water in this part. The pool is fenced off in order to comply with safety and health principles.

Name of the work: Mehmanak Hot Spring

توصیف وضعیت اثر:

Mehmanak village is located 6 kilometers southwest of Ashkhaneh city and adjacent to the Asian road. There is a hot spring about 1.5 kilometers east of this village. This spring emerges from under a limestone mountain and from several points. The spring is known locally as Garmuk and its water is used for agricultural purposes and is often used to irrigate orchards, most of which are grown with grapes. The average natural flow rate of this spring in the first 6 months of 2010 is about 47 liters per second. The area of ​​the spring is about 50 square meters. The spring water is very clear and transparent. According to local research, in the past, the water in this spring was more abundant and the place where the water emerged was at a higher level. However, due to the droughts that have occurred in the area in recent years, the water level has dropped and the amount of spring water has also decreased. For this reason, the residents of the spring have deepened the spring to make it easier for the water to emerge. Based on field surveys, people believe that the water of this spring is healing and they use the mud from this spring to treat skin problems and wounds. Both men and women bathe in it. Small, gray fish can be seen in the water. The water of this spring is of great importance to the people and, in addition to its ritual status, plays a significant role in their livelihood. Mehmanak hot spring is one of the few hot springs in North Khorasan Province, the introduction of which can expand the field of further research in the field of water sciences and also attract interested people to this place.

Name of the work: Sharshar Waterfall

Description of the condition of the work:

29 kilometers southwest of Shirvan city is the village of Estakhri. Upstream of the village is a spring whose water flows in the middle of the village. On the way to the valley of Estakhri village, the spring water reaches a precipice about 20 meters high, which forms a very beautiful waterfall known as Sharshar. Multiple steps and numerous pools double the beauty of the water falling in the waterfall, and the interplay of trees, mountain topography, and river has given this waterfall a stunning beauty. When the water twists between the rocks and quickly jumps out of the mountain, it falls on the sturdy trees of poplar, willow, and walnut. Due to its collision with the rocks and large stones at the bottom of the valley, it is seen as a white cloud, which creates a very interesting and spectacular view. In the cold of winter, when this waterfall freezes, it creates a unique and eye-catching sight that is an example of the signs of the eternal power of God. The average flow rate of the waterfall is about 15 cubic meters per second.

Old juniper tree in Estakhri

Description of the condition of the work: This old tree has a diameter at breast height of 141 cm, and its canopy area covers 210 square meters. The age of this old tree is estimated to be about 800 to 1000 years. In terms of its appearance and according to its species, this tree has a thick trunk and has wide and extensive roots on the soil surface, which can be seen on the soil surface up to a distance of 15 meters from its base. This tree is located on a hillside about 1 kilometer south and inside the cemetery area of ​​this village. Also, the village waterfall (Sharshar) is about 500 meters northwest of it. The soil around the tree is completely dry and according to research, the only source of water is through rainfall. This old tree has a long and sturdy trunk that has several branches from a height of about 2 meters and has spread around. In terms of its physiological condition, it is in old age and its trunk is completely empty from the inside. Due to its age and species, this ancient tree has been able to adapt well to the region’s climate, so genetic studies on this species are recommended to improve its reproduction.

Old plane trees of Islamabad

Description of the condition of the work:

In the middle of the village of Islamabad and next to the village’s bathroom, two plane trees with different diameters can be seen side by side (2 meters apart). The diameter of the first plane tree was measured to be 145 centimeters and the diameter of the second plane tree was measured to be 160 centimeters at breast height. It seems that these trees are about 200 to 250 years old and in this regard they are considered old trees. In terms of appearance, both trees are in a completely fresh and green state, and there are no signs of fire or holes on their trunks indicating internal decay. These trees are also very tall. The village river passes from the south of these trees and at a distance of about 5 meters from them, which plays an important role in the survival of these trees and meeting their water needs. To the north of them and at a distance of about 3 meters, there is a village bathhouse. According to local research, there used to be a water mill instead of this bathhouse, which was built after its destruction (1984). In addition, the water path was also towards the mill and passed from the north of the trees, which changed the water path due to the construction of the bathhouse, and this river is seen in its present form. These old trees, due to their age and their species, have been able to adapt well to the climate of the region, and they are the oldest trees in Iran, so genetic studies on it are recommended for improvement or propagation.

Baba Aman Spring

Description of the condition of the work:

10 kilometers northeast of Bojnourd and on the main Bojnourd-Mashhad road, the famous “Baba Aman” promenade is located. In Baba Aman Park and about 10 meters from the Imamzadeh Park tomb, there is a spring that boils at 4 points from a hill and its water flows into pools that have been built with different levels to produce artificial waterfalls. There are 9 of these pools, which are built with different heights and in the direction of the slope, and the last one is adjacent to the road. The water temperature of this spring is about 12 degrees Celsius and the area of ​​the main spring is about 14 square meters. Its average depth is about 20 centimeters. The average natural flow rate of this spring is about 28 liters per second. The importance of this spring is very great. The main reason for the creation of Baba Aman Park is the presence of a large number of trees of various species such as plane trees, maple trees, poplar trees, pine trees, etc., which have turned it into a forest park, the survival of the old Baba Aman plane trees, which are being registered in the country’s national heritage list, one of which has a diameter of about 318 centimeters, and many other factors that have collectively turned this place into a model national tourism area, all owe their existence to the existence of this spring. Also, the water from this spring has been piped for drinking purposes.

Old plane trees in Bashqardash

Description of the condition of the work

Bash Qardash Park is located 6 kilometers southwest of Bojnourd city, which is currently under the management of Bojnourd Municipality. Inside this park and adjacent to the tomb of Yar Mohammad Khan Shadlu (Sardar Mofakham), many plane trees can be seen. Among these trees, 3 trunks have a larger diameter and have rotted due to old age. The first plane tree is located in front of the Sardar’s tomb, has a cylindrical trunk and a diameter of 192 centimeters at the chest level, and is the oldest tree in this park. In terms of appearance, it has rotted, the traces of which can be seen in the trunk and on its north side, which has been filled with cement by the municipality. Also, at a height of 1.20 meters on the western side of the trunk, a hole measuring about 20 centimeters can be seen, which indicates the rotting of the tree. This tree is completely fresh and green in terms of its appearance and has a large crown, whose branches extend over the pool of the park complex on the west side. A wall of decorative malon stones was built around this tree, 40 centimeters high. It is about 250 years old. The second plane tree, which is located 5 meters south of the first plane tree and adjacent to the wall of the porch of the Sardar’s tomb, has a diameter of 150 centimeters. Due to its old age, this tree has split in the middle and its trunk has been damaged. For this reason, its trunk has been filled with Chinese stones to a height of 2 meters on the northern side. One of the main branches of this tree, which is located on the western side, has dried up due to internal rot, but is still connected to the main trunk. The other branches of this tree are healthy and form its crown. A wall of decorative malon stones was also built around this tree. It is about 200 years old. The third plane tree, which is located at the entrance to the park, about 16 meters away from the first plane tree and to its south, has a trunk that is narrower on the north and south sides and thicker on the east and west sides. Its diameter on the north and south sides of the trunk is about 150 centimeters and on the east and west sides about 250 centimeters. Therefore, its average diameter is about 200 centimeters. The above tree has rotted due to old age and its trunk on the south side has completely disappeared, which has been filled with Chinese stone by the municipality. This tree has 2 branches from a height of 2.5 meters and the signs of rot are clear on the branch that extends to the east. The trunk of this tree is healthy in other directions and its age is about 250 years. These old trees, due to their great age and their variety, have been able to adapt well to the climate of the region and are the oldest trees in Iran, and therefore it is recommended to conduct genetic studies on them for improvement or propagation.

Source of Shouqan:

About 1.5 kilometers northwest of Imam Khomeini Square in the city of Shoqan, there is a beautiful and famous spring called the source of Shoqan. This spring is located next to a mountain and its water comes out from several points under the cracks of the mountain. According to statistics from the provincial water base study office, the average flow rate during the first 8 months of the year of this spring is about 100 liters per second and the area of ​​the spring is about 150 square meters. The average temperature of the water is also about 16 degrees Celsius. The water of this spring is used for drinking in the city and agriculture. The water of this spring is very important for the people of Shoqan. They believe in this spring and make vows to it. According to local research, this spring is the main spring in the region and was the reason for the formation of the city of Shoqan and the people settling nearby. After passing through the gardens and farms, the water of this spring enters the city’s streams and irrigates the city’s green space. The old plane tree of Shouqan city, which is located in the city’s central square and is registered in the country’s list of national natural monuments, is also watered by this spring. Part of the water from the source of Shouqan is used for drinking by the people of Shouqan city. Overall, this spring is very important because of the blessing it has for the city and has turned this place into a tourist area. Historical monuments

Bojnourd County

The building of the Mofakham Mansion (Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology)

Registration number in the National Monuments List: 952

Location: Bojnourd, North Shariati Street

The Mofakham Mansion is the largest and most prominent historical monument of the Qajar era in North Khorasan Province, built in the early 1300s by order of Yar Mohammad Khan Shadloo, known as Sardar Mofakham, the ruler of North Khorasan, as a residence for him and his family. This luxurious building has 34 rooms with two large halls. The main facade of the building faces the south, and it is decorated in the most beautiful way with various mosaic, maqli, and seven-color tiling techniques and with human, animal, Islamic, Khatai, and geometric designs and motifs. The materials used in the building are bricks with plaster mortar, and each floor of the building has two porches, one north and one south. The entire building is tiled with beautiful seven-color mud tiles in different sizes and shapes in turquoise, yellow, pink, purple, white, green, red, and black, and each column is decorated with its own design and pattern. The exterior of the building displays images of two winged angels, human figures, paintings of flowers, plants, and birds, nature, and geometric designs from the 13th century. This historical monument is registered with number 952 in the list of historical monuments. After restoration and restoration, the Mofakham Mansion has become the great museum of archaeology and anthropology of the province. Anthropological museums are historical museums that display a corner of the culture of the tribes and nations of a region in the form of customs, traditional occupations, and handicrafts. The anthropological section of the museum consists of three general topics: tribes, occupations, and rituals. The content of each section of the anthropological museum is introduced below.

Mirror of the Mofakham House (Museum of Documents and Manuscripts)

Registration number in the National Monuments List: 1167

Location: Bojnourd, North Shariati Street

The building known as the Mirror House is one of the prominent monuments of the Qajar period in North Khorasan, located in the north of Bojnourd, at the northern end of Shariati Street. During the Qajar period, the Mirror House, along with other buildings such as the Mofakham Mansion, the Pergola, the Pond, and the Gate, was located in a large garden and formed the Mofakham Government Complex. This building was built in the 1300s AH, during the reign of Nasser al-Din Shah, by order of Yar Mohammad Khan Shadlu, known as Sardar Mofakham, and was used as an administrative and civil space for Sardar Mofakham’s official meetings with political figures of the Qajar era, as well as for military ceremonies and consultations on political and social issues with the leaders of the Shadlu tribe and other political figures of the Qajar era. It is known that the architectural plan of the Mirror House was designed by Mirza Mehdi Khanshaghaghi (Mamtehn al-Dowleh), the first Iranian architect who graduated from the Paris School of Architecture. The mirror house building is on two floors with approximate dimensions of 11 It is built with a size of 18 meters and a height of about 10 meters, and has a total of 9 rooms. One of the rooms on the upper floor is a hall measuring 8 meters by 3 meters, all the walls and ceiling of which are decorated with beautiful mirror designs, and it is because of this hall that this building is called the Mirror House. The Mirror House building is registered under number 1167 in the list of national monuments of the country and has been used as a museum of documents and manuscripts since 1379.

Imamzadeh Mohammad Reza Langar

Registration number in the National Monuments List: 5153

Location: Bojnourd County, 1 km from Langar Village

The Imamzadeh of Mohammad Reza is one of the religious-historical monuments of Bojnourd city, which was probably built during the Timurid period. The inscription of the building, which is now missing, mentioned the date of construction of the tomb in 876 AH. This tomb has been repaired many times and its exterior was completely renovated during the Qajar period. The building is about 7 meters high from the floor to the top of the double-domed dome. The front of the porches, the lakhki and the entire outer shell of the dome are covered with turquoise tiles.

Tomb building in Bash Qardash

Registration number in the National Monuments List: 4575

Location: 4 km southwest of Bojnourd

The Bashqardash mausoleum is one of the most prominent works of the Qajar period in Bojnourd. Its general plan consists of a dome-shaped house in the middle and two smaller rooms on either side, with their entrances on the west side. In front of each entrance is a porch with a lancet arch, with minarets on either side. The entire western facade of the building, on the columns and the dome, is decorated with turquoise and seven-colored tiles. This building is the mausoleum of Sardar Mofakham, the ruler of the northern Khorasan region during the Qajar period.

Aliabad Garden Pavilion

Registration number in the National Monuments List: 4953

Location: Bojnourd County, Ali Abad Village

The Ali Abad Garden Pavilion is a two-story building with a rectangular plan that was built in the center of a garden during the Qajar period. This pavilion has four entrances in the cardinal directions and its general layout on the ground floor includes a domed-roofed pond in the center and two rooms on the east and west sides. Under the pond roof, there are beautiful plaster moldings and decorative elements. There are stairs built into the building to reach the second floor and the roof. The Ali Abad Garden and Pavilion complex is an example of Iranian garden architecture in North Khorasan Province.

Sabzeh Maidan Collection

Registration number in the National Monuments List: 14223

Location: Bojnourd, Shahid Square

The Sabzeh Maidan complex consists of a caravanserai, a bathhouse, a market square, and several coffee houses, all of which are Qajar-era works in the city of Bojnourd. The most prominent work of this complex is the caravanserai, whose general plan consists of a mezzanine and 34 rooms around it. Various parts of the caravanserai, including the arches, are decorated with a style of sleeping brickwork and embossed molded bricks. The bathhouse building is located in the northeast of the complex and is designed in the style of traditional baths. In this design, after the entrance, there is a dressing room that leads through a narrow corridor to the sarbineh and finally to the hothouse.

Jajarmi Husseiniyeh

Registration number in the National Monuments List: 1151

Location: Bojnourd, East Taleghani Street

The Jajarmi Hosseinieh is a monument of the late Qajar period in the city of Bojnourd, built by Master Gholamreza Bana Yazdi in 1325 AH based on an inscription. This building is an example of traditional architecture of the central courtyard type, which is considered an introverted architecture, in which all doors, windows, and skylights open to the courtyard. The general plan of the building is square and consists of two floors on the eastern and western sides, with a total area of ​​about 600 square meters. The entrance to the Hosseinieh is connected to the central courtyard through a vestibule, which leads to the upper floor’s moonlit rooms with two flights of stairs in the northeast and southwest corners. The roof of the vestibule of the building at the entrance and all the rooms on the lower floor is covered with a pointed arch, and the upper floor is covered with a beam. The building is decorated with architectural elements such as brickwork, stucco, mogharnas, and inscriptions. The upper part of the eastern porch wall has a decorative frieze with an inscription in Nastaliq script, in which an excerpt from the famous verse of Mohtasham Kashani’s elegy for the martyrs of Karbala (What kind of rebellion is this?) is plastered. These poems are appropriate for the main use of this building as a Hussainiyyah and a place of mourning for the mourners of Sayyid al-Shuhada (AS). According to the owner’s statement (the late Hajj Ali Akbar Jajarmi), the original Hussainiyyah building was initially used for residential purposes and was later dedicated to Hussainiyyah, and mourning is held in it every year in the month of Safar. However, after the building was damaged and abandoned in the following decades, the family of the donor gave it to the Department of Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism of North Khorasan on the condition that it be preserved and restored and that the provisions of the endowment deed be observed. The Department of Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism of the province began studying, strengthening and restoring this historical building in 2005 and completed it in November 2011. Currently, Hasineh Jajarami is used as a museum, handicraft market, and traditional dining hall, and mourning ceremonies are held there during the Muharram period.

Tomb of Imamzadeh Mohammad Baqer

Esfidan Registration number in the National Monuments List: 5942

Location: Bojnourd County, Esfidan Village

The tomb of Imamzadeh Mohammad Baqer Esfidan is one of the holy sites in Bojnourd city, which was probably built during the Safavid or Qajar era. The plan of this tomb is rectangular and a dome with a long stem covers its roof. This building has two porches: the eastern porch with an arched covering decorated with Muqarnas, stucco and mirror work, and the southern porch with a flat covering on which the names of Waqf and Bani Khair for the construction and restoration of the building are written in ink on some of the ceiling beams. This tomb is attributed to Imamzadeh Mohammad Baqer, a descendant of Imam Sajjad (AS).

Martyrs’ Tomb

Registration number in the National Monuments List: 9241

Location: Bojnourd, 32-meter Shohada Street

The Martyrs’ Tomb is an outstanding example of early Pahlavi architecture in Bojnourd, built in the center of a garden. This monument is the burial place of a number of Reza Shah’s officers who lost their lives in the suppression of the Lahak Khan rebellion that was raised in the Alam Sarkashi region in 1304. The plan of the Martyrs’ Tomb consists of a domed quadrilateral with a small minaret at each corner and its body is decorated with carved bricks. This building was inspired by the architecture of the early centuries of Islam.

Name of the work: National Bank House

Registration number in the National Monuments List: 14150

Location: Bojnourd, South Amirieh Street

The National Bank House is one of the Pahlavi-era houses in Bojnourd, built with a combination of traditional and European architecture. The windows and some entrances of the building are covered with arched arches and tiled frames are created above them. The building’s plan, gable roof known as Kolah Farangi, Corinthian capitals, and many other features of this building are adapted from European architecture in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Tomb of Imamzadeh Sultan Seyyed Abbas (Masoomzadeh)

Location: Bojnourd, Sacred Defense Square

The tomb of Imamzadeh Sultan Seyyed Abbas, known as Masoomzadeh, is located in the south of Bojnourd. Due to repeated renovations, the exact date of its construction is unknown. This tomb is the burial place of Imamzadeh Sultan Seyyed Abbas, the son of Imam Musa Kazim (AS), who entered Khorasan from Medina during the Abbasid period and died in the late second century AH.

Shirvan County

Hanamah Caves

Registration number in the National Monuments List: 22214

Location: Hanameh village, 18 km northeast of Shirvan

The Hanamah Caves consist of a series of dug-out spaces that were dug into the heart of the mountain to create a village with a special defensive position. This dug-out architectural complex includes numerous residential spaces, warehouses, stables, etc., which were built with different levels and on three floors. The first floor was a barn or a place to keep livestock, and the second and third floors were places to store food and accommodate people. Based on the study of pottery found around this complex and comparative studies, the Hanamah Caves were built in the 4th and 5th centuries AH and were used in later periods, especially during times of unrest and insecurity.

Tomb of Imamzadeh Hamzah Ibn Musa al-Reza (AS)

Registration number in the National Monuments List: 704

Location: Ziarat City

The tomb of Imamzadeh Hamzeh Reza is one of the holy sites and historical places in Shirvan city, located in the village of Ziarat and is attributed to Hamzeh ibn Musa al-Kazim, one of the brothers of Imam Reza (AS). This building has a rectangular plan and four entrances in the cardinal directions. The external walls of the building are decorated with arched facades and the main entrance porch on the southern side is tiled. The exact date of construction of this building is not known, but considering the type of plan, facades and the method of construction of the dome, arches and arches, it is most likely that it was built during the Safavid period and was later repeatedly renovated.

Teymurian Quadrilateral

Registration number in the National Monuments List: 4808

Location: The four-arched Timurid monument is located 6 km from Shirvan. This tomb is attributed to Eid Khwaja, one of Timur’s generals. The Timurid tomb has an octagonal exterior and a quadrangular interior. The dome of the building was a detached double-layered structure, the outer covering of which has been lost in recent years. Various elements, including vaults with a pedimented covering and upright brickwork at the base of the dome, decorate the exterior of the building. The interior of the building is covered with plaster, which is decorated in different parts with unique paintings of hunting scenes and plant motifs. Also, under the lower skylights of the dome, a beautiful stucco inscription strip in the Thuluth script with verses from the blessed Surah Al-Imran gives this building a special look.

Tomb of Prophet Zachariah (PBUH)

Location: Namanloo Village

The tomb of Imamzadeh Zakaria is located 70 kilometers northeast of Shirvan, between the village of Namanlu and the Galul region. According to ancient traditions and oral literature, the head of the Prophet Zakaria was buried at the tomb, and his body was buried separately, not far from the main shrine. On one of the summer days, the people of Namanlu and the surrounding villages, as well as some people from other parts of the city, go to the shrine of Zakaria (AS) to perform an ancient ceremony, and on top of the peak and next to the tomb, they hold a thanksgiving ceremony for their harvest. In this ceremony, people make sacrifices, vows, and needs to thank the God of infinite blessings, thus demonstrating one of the oldest and most beautiful Iranian-Islamic traditions.

Pir Shahid Bath

Registration number in the National Monuments List: 8942

Location: Shirvan County, Pir Shahid Village

Pirshahid Bath is an example of a treasury bath and consists of three main sections including a dressing room, a hot tub, and a hot and cold water treasury. The dressing room is a vestibule with a dodecagonal plan that is accessed by a series of stairs. On each side of the dressing room are niches for placing items. The hot tub can be accessed from the eastern corner of the dressing room. This section also consists of 6 rectangular spaces, the length and width of the three large spaces being 4.8 ×5.5 meters and three smaller spaces 8.4×It is 3.4 meters. The hot tub is located in the eastern corner of the bathhouse, and two smaller spaces were also used as a treasury. The Pir Shahid Bathhouse, like other Khazin baths, is built below ground level.

Farouj County

Aliabad Historical Castle

Registration number in the National Monuments List: 12083

Location: Farouj County, Yam Village

Ali Abad Castle is one of the castles that was built during the Safavid period to resist the invading tribes and, due to the insecurity of the region, it continued to be used until the late Qajar period. This castle has a rectangular plan and is fortified with towers, ramparts, and a large moat. This castle has two gates in the middle of the northern and southern walls, four towers at the corners, and two towers in the middle of the eastern and western walls.

Tomb of Baba and Bibi

Registration number in the National Monuments List: 5945

Location: Farouj County, Ostad Village

The shrine of Baba and Bibi is a historical monument from the Timurid period in Farouj city. This building consists of two rooms on the north and south sides and a large porch with an arched cover on the east side. Inside each room there is a tomb on which there is a wooden chest carved with plant motifs and inscriptions in the Thuluth script. The ceiling of the room where Baba Hussein’s tomb is located is covered with a dome of rock and arqchini underneath, and the outer shell of the dome is covered with galvanized sheet metal.

Old bathhouse of Ostad village

Location: Farouj County, Ostad Village

It is an example of the Qajar-Pahlavi period baths in Faruj city, which is built underground with stone materials. The general layout of the bathroom consists of an entrance corridor, a headboard with an octagonal plan, a greenhouse and water tanks. The roof of the bathroom is covered with domes and there is an opening in the middle of the domes for the light to enter the bathroom.

Master’s Mosque

Registration number in the National Monuments List: 18739

Location: Farouj County, Ostad Village

The Jame’e Ostad Mosque is a religious-historical monument in Farouj city, the exact date of its construction is unknown due to extensive repairs. This mosque is a simple nightstand mosque and its plan consists of a rectangle with large square columns 2 meters in diameter in the middle. These columns are connected at the top by shallow pedimented arches that transfer the pressure from the roof to the foundations.

Esfarayen County

City of Belqis

Registration number in the National Monuments List: 4497

Location: 3 kilometers south of Esfarayen city

The city of Belqis is the remains of the ancient city of Esfarayen in North Khorasan, which was formed in the early centuries of Islam and was inhabited until the end of the Safavid and early Qajar periods, in other words, it has more than a thousand years of Esfarayen history in its heart. The city of Belqis has the complete conditions and characteristics of an Islamic city and has various parts including the citadel, the city hall and various urban facilities such as the bazaar and the mosque, etc. The citadel of the city of Belqis is the most important and prominent work of this ancient complex, which can be called one of the largest adobe structures in Iran. This large adobe and stratified structure has an area of ​​about 51,000 square meters, which was once protected by 29 towers of different sizes. There is a wide moat around the citadel, which makes the fortress more difficult to penetrate. Other monuments can also be seen within the city wall (Sharestan), including: 1- The tomb of Sheikh Azari, a poet and mystic from the 9th century AH, located in the northern part of Sharestan Shahr. 2- The Bazaar in the middle part of the city, which includes the market and economic parts of the city, located between the Minar Hill in the south and Sheikh Azari in the north. 3- The place known as the Minar Hill, “which, according to the writings of historians, geographers, and archaeological excavations, is probably the site of a mosque during the Islamic era,” parts of which have been excavated by archaeologists. In addition, two other important buildings are located outside the city wall of Balqis but nearby: one is the caravanserai known as Kohneh Rabat in the northwest part of the Balqis city wall, and the other is a complex known as the Yakhdans, located in the southwest part of the historical city of Esfarayen. Archaeological excavations in Balqis began in 2007 with speculation to determine the area and boundaries of the city, and have continued continuously until now. Excavations in the city of Belqees have led to the discovery of exquisite cultural and artistic artifacts, including various types of pottery and vessels, coins, pottery kilns, remains of a mosque and a cistern, and other artifacts that together paint a clear picture of the history of this ancient city. The artifacts obtained from the city of Belqees are on display in the large provincial archaeological museum in Bojnourd. Archaeological studies and excavations have led to the introduction of the city of Belqees and the explanation of its cultural significance, and have led to the establishment of the Belqees City Cultural Heritage Base in 2009. Since then, the Belqees City Base, in parallel with archaeological excavations, has been carrying out restoration activities in various parts of the city, especially the restoration of the citadel and the tomb of Sheikh Azari, and has extensive programs on the agenda to identify and introduce this valuable ancient heritage.

Saluk Castle

Registration number in the National Monuments List:

Location: Esfarayen County,

The historical monument of Saluk Castle is a fortress on the southern front of the Saluk Heights, which dates back to the 6th-7th centuries AH and has been mentioned in various historical texts. The castle was built on a single rock with precipitous walls, which made it very difficult to conquer. Inside the castle, there are remains of various facilities such as a food and grain storehouse, a bathhouse, a mill, a prison, and the residence of the castle commander and other people, which together bring the area of ​​the castle to more than one hectare. In terms of its size and extremely inaccessible location, Saluk Castle is one of the most prominent military castles of the Islamic period in northern Khorasan.

Tomb of Imamzadeh Ahmad ibn Ali Musa (AS)

Registration number in the National Monuments List: 5947

Location: Esfarayen County, 7 kilometers south of Koran village

The Imamzadeh of Ahmad ibn Musa, near the village of Kuran, is built with a rectangular plan measuring 29 meters (from east to west) and 19 meters (from north to south). The building consists of a dome, two halls or eastern and western nave, and four porches in the cardinal directions. There are also six rooms on the sides of the porches and the western side of the dome, known as the chelleh. The dome is the main space of the tomb, located in the center, and its roof is covered with a separate double-roofed dome. The building is built with brick and plaster and lime mortar, but the lower part of the walls up to the plinth used rubble stone, which is hidden under the plaster. In some places, older layers of painting and decorative works with gilding can be seen on the plaster. In some places, traces of Persian and Arabic inscriptions, including poetry and mementos, can also be seen. Examination of the inscriptions in the building, including the inscriptions on the tombstones, the inscriptions on the wooden doors, and the writing on the plasterwork on the walls, indicates the Safavid period, but careful examination of the architectural details indicates that the building was built in an earlier period, probably during the Ilkhanid or Timurid periods.

Tomb of Baba Qudrat

Registration number in the National Monuments List: 11052

Location: Esfarayen County, west of Dehneh Ojaq village

The Baba Qodrat Mausoleum was built in the style of hand-carved architecture, and all its constituent elements were dug into a natural hill. The general plan of the building consists of three main parts, including an entrance on the east side, a rectangular hall, a flight of stairs at the end of the hallway, and a square dome. The dome is of the continuous double-layered type and is made of rubble and half-pounded clay. The entire roof and floor of the building are left natural and made of conglomerate, except for the dome, which is completely covered with plaster and decorated in various parts with geometric patterns or verses from the Quran and hadiths written in blue. The entrance to the building is in the form of a long porch with a semicircular arch, built with brick and cement materials and is about 5 meters wide. This porch was added to the mausoleum building in the last decade by the Endowments and Charity Affairs Department and did not exist in the past. According to old photographs and quotes from local people, in the past the entrance to the tomb was in the shape of a natural cave mouth and its height was as high as a human being. After the entrance, there is a rectangular hall 30.4 meters wide and 40 meters long, with niches on its sides. There are 4 niches along the entire southern wall of the hall and 2 niches on its northern wall. These niches are apparently completely new and the result of interventions by the Endowment Department, and before these interventions, there were actually side corridors in different parts of the main corridor. The entrance to the building is on the eastern side of the hill, which leads to a steep slope to a large stream. On the edge of the stream and the symbol of the Qanat, there is a series of aqueducts that provide the water needed by the people nearby the shrine. Some researchers consider the owner of this tomb to be “Dervish Hussein ibn Muhammad and the builder of the Tomb of the Blind.” This building does not have any specific or dateable features, and perhaps the architectural style of its double-roofed dome can only be mentioned, which is somewhat similar to the examples of the Ilkhanid and Timurid periods, although the history of the construction of the main corridor of the shrine may also date back to the pre-Islamic period. Despite all this, the inscriptions and poems written on the plastered walls of the dome house can be read as 1373 and 1376 AH, which undoubtedly relate to later interventions in the building that were carried out during the Qajar period. One of these inscriptions on the arch of the entrance to the dome house reads as follows: A godly man who seeks piety / You want white clothes and you want to be black / Mirza Muhammad Ali bin Haj Mirza Baqir… / 1373 AH.

Tomb of Rashid al-Din Muhammad Bidwazi

Registration number in the National Monuments List: 2192

Location: Esfarayen County, Bidvar Village

Sheikh Rashid al-Din Muhammad Bidwaz (d. 866 AH) was a Sufi saint and the twenty-first guru of the Zahabiyya Kubrayya dynasty. According to historical texts, he died in 877 AH and was buried in his hometown of Bidwaz. A simple octagonal domed building was built on his grave with rubble and mortar. Each side of the building is 3.5 meters long and the total width of the building is 45.8 meters. The dome of the building is hemispherical and made of brick with a wooden slat that protrudes from the outer wall of the dome in the form of a poppy. The interior walls of the building are decorated with simple arches on which a stucco frieze in the line of a third at a height of 2.4 meters from the floor of the building goes around the walls, then another row of arches with an arched arch, and finally, under the dome skylights at a height of 4.5 meters from the floor of the building, there is another row of similar stucco inscriptions. On the southern wall of the tomb there is a small mihrab with stucco decorations. The decorative frame of the mihrab of the tomb contains verse 39 of the Holy Surah Al-Imran (Fanadahta al-Maalaika wa hu qaam yasli fi al-mihrab), which has been destroyed. The inscriptions on the friezes are verses from the Holy Quran and prayers and peace be upon the fourteen infallibles, and in part of it the owner of the tomb is introduced as Muhammad Rashid al-Din, the grandson of Sheikh Hamam and the grandson of Sheikh Ahmad al-Ghazali, of the same lineage. The entrance to the building is on the western side, but originally there were two other entrances on the eastern and northern sides, which are blocked today. In the past, the door and shrine of this tomb were made of round wood and beautifully carved, which has now been transferred to the museum. Today, instead of the tombstone shrine and the old carved door, a simple wooden door has been installed. The shrine of the tomb is made of walnut and plane wood, measuring 130 x 193 and 180 cm high, and has carved designs and inscriptions. The designs used are mostly Islamic and use geometric knots in the shape of a sun and octagonal shapes. The door of the tomb is also carved in the same way. The inscriptions of the shrine are in Naskh script and the name of the master of the work is mentioned in it: “Amal Ustad Muhammad bin Nizam, a servant of Dhul-Jalal and Al-Ikram.” The text of the second inscription in the upper margin of the shrine contains the names of the Most High and is as follows: Ho Allah Al-Dhi La La Ilah Il-Haw Hu Rahman Al-Rahim Al-Mulk Al-Qudus Salam Al-Mu’min Al-Himin Al-Aziz Al-Jibar Al-Mutakbar Al-Khaliq Al-Bari Al-Msur Al-Ghafar Al-Qahar Al-Wahhab Al-Razzaq Al-Fatih Al-Alim Al-Qabd Al-Nar Al-Basit Al-Khafid Al-Rafi Umaaz Al-Mazal Al-Sami’i Al-Hakim Al-Adil Al-Tif Al-Khair Al-Halim Al-Azimim Al-Shakor Al-Ali Al-Kabir Al-Hafiz Al-Maqtadar Al-Hasib Al-Khalil Al-Karim Al-Mujeeb Al-Was’ Al-Halim Al-Wudud Al-Majid Al-Baa’th Al-Shaheed Al-Waqil Al-Qawi Al-Wali Al-Hamid Al-Hayy al-Qayyum Al-Wahid Al-Wajd Al-Ahd Al-Samad Al-Qadir Al-Maqtar Al-Mukhtar Al-Awal and Al-Akhir Al-Zahir and Al-Batin and Al-Wali and Al-Mutaali Al-Tawab Al-Munaim Al-Munaqm Al-Munaqam Al-Ghafoor Al-Rahim Al-Malik Al-Mulk Al-Jalal and Al-Karam Al-Muqasat Al-Jami Al-Ghani Al-Mughni Al-Mu’ati Al-Muna’i Al-Wahdi Al-Nazar Al-Naf’i Al-Nur Al-Hadi Al-Badi’ Al-Baqi Al-Warth Al-Rashid Al-Sabur Al-Sattar. Namqa al-Da’if Muhammad ibn Muhyi, year 881. Considering that the name of the master mausoleum builder is mentioned in the Muhammad ibn Nizam inscription, Muhammad ibn Muhyi must have been the builder of this mausoleum.

Tomb of Prince Mohammad Baghshajerd

Registration number in the National Monuments List: 5950

Location: Esfarayen County, Baghshajerd Village

It is a brick building with a rectangular plan measuring 9 x 10 m.11 meters high, located in the residential area of ​​Baghshajerd village and near the village aqueduct. The main plan of the building is in the four-arch style, which today, except for the eastern entrance, all other entrances are blocked and have become arched. A series of stairs is installed on the northern side of the building that provides access to the roof of the building. There are also two chambers on either side of the entrance, one of which is blocked and one is open. The entrance leads to the dome house through a porch about 3 meters wide. The porch of the building is covered with a semicircular arch and its entire interior is plastered. Above the entrance door of the building, a small arch is installed, on the sides of which are carved images of two deer, implicitly referring to the concept of “deer guarantor”. The dome house is a square space with dimensions of 20.5 ×20/5, which is converted into an octagon with the help of four elephants at the top and a dome is placed on top of it. The height of the building up to the bottom of the dome is 7 meters. The interior of the building is plastered and various plant and geometric motifs and inscriptions in red ochre, azure blue, and light green are painted on the plaster. The inscriptions mainly include supplications and Quranic verses. On the upper part of the wall and on the frieze, “Ayah al-Kursi” is written in Thuluth script on azure background, and below it, various geometric bergamots with plant motifs and supplications and pilgrimage letters are written. For example, on the southern entrance of the building, the prayer “Ziyarat al-Jami’ah al-Kabirah” is written in several rows on top of each other inside horizontal parallel strips, a large part of which has been erased due to friction, the installation of switches and electrical outlets, and other factors. This inscription is also written in Thuluth script on azure background and the surrounding inscription is outlined in red ochre. The entire plasterwork under the dome is also decorated with beautiful plant motifs in the aforementioned colors. Unfortunately, today, due to moisture and lack of care for the building, a significant part of the beautiful plasterwork and paintings inside the building have collapsed, and if left unattended, these decorations will be completely destroyed in the next few decades. The general plan of the building, as well as the details of the interior decoration and the method of executing the motifs and inscriptions with natural colors including azure blue, ochre red, etc., are similar in every way to the building of the tomb of Imamzadeh Hamzeh Musa in the village of Dehne Shirin. Both of these buildings are dated to the Safavid period according to the method of decoration, motifs and inscriptions, and architectural style. The inscription “Ayatul Kursi” on the frieze and part of the “Ziyarat Jama’ah” (In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful, peace be upon you, the Ahlul Bayt al-Nabwah, the place of the message, the various angels, the landing place of revelation, the mine of mercy, etc.) on the entrance gate are written in Thuluth script, most of which have collapsed or become illegible.

Name of the work: Tomb of Imamzadeh Hamzah ibn Musa (Dehne Shirin)

Registration number in the National Monuments List: 5151

Location: Esfarayen County, Dehne Shirin Village

The general plan of the building is very simple, consisting of a dome and a porch on the southwest side. Each side of the dome is 5 meters long and is plastered on the inside, and all over it are plant motifs including Islamic, Khatai and bergamot motifs, which are decorated with supplications and verses from the Quran in different parts. Yellow, blue, red, black and white plaster colors were used in the background. In the entrance porch, part of the motif of a human figure and a deer can be seen, which may be the image of the blessed Imam Reza and the trapped animal (the deer guarantor). Only on the front and the sides of the porch are tiled, which was created based on the inscription by “Hajj Qayyum, architect and master Abbas, the residents of Sabzevar” in the year “1348”. In different parts of the building, there are inscriptions including supplications and surahs from the Quran. Inside the eastern facade arch, inside a large bergamot, a part of the closing prayer of Nad Ali the Great is written in Thulth script, as follows: “Nad Ali, the manifestation of wonders, may you find help in all your troubles, with all your greatness and sorrow, with your greatness and your greatness In addition, at the highest part of the walls, along the frieze, under the eaves of the walls, there are inscriptions of Quranic verses, including part of verse 137 of Surah Al-Baqarah, “In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. So Allah will forgive you, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing,” and part of Surah An-Nasr. [….falling], where he glorified His Lord and sought His forgiveness, if he repented. Then, in another parallel frame, Surah Al-Hamd and then another verse of the Quran, including [….purification], “Under the rivers, we abide in them.” All the inscriptions on the frieze are written in white third-letter script on a blue background, and are outlined in black. The inscriptions inside the arches of the eastern and northern facades are written in white on a red background, and the arch of the western facade (where the bergamot and its inscription are newer) are written in yellow on a blue background. In addition, the tiled frame of the entrance porch, where the name of the owner of this tomb, “Prince Hamza bin Musa,” is written in Nastaleq script, mentions the names of the craftsmen as follows: “Tile maker Haj Qayyum Memar and Master Abbas Bana, residents of Sabzevar.” Based on this inscription, the building was probably substantially renovated in 1348.

Name of the work: Tomb of Sheikh Ahmad Zakir Ghorpani

Registration number in the National Monuments List: 5906

Location: Esfarayen County, Gorpan Village

Sheikh Jamal al-Din Zakir Jurfani (Ghorpani) is one of the famous mystics of the city of Isfarayen (597-669 AH) and one of the pillars of the Kubrawiyya dynasty. He was a student of Sheikh Razi al-Din Ali Lala and learned the path of Sufism from him. The plan of the Sheikh’s tomb is a domed quadrilateral and was built with brick and mud materials. Considering the type of materials used in the building, including brick and mud, the level of erosion in the monument was high and therefore it was renovated in different periods and the exact date of its construction is unknown.

Jajarm County

Jajarm Grand Mosque

Registration number in the National Monuments List: 1580

Location: Jajarm, South Khordad 15th Street

The mosque building is located in the middle of the historical fabric of Jajarm city, parts of which still remain, such as the Kazem Khan citadel, the garden, the pavilion building, and some other buildings. Some researchers attribute the original construction of the Jajarm Grand Mosque to the Seljuk period. This mosque is a type of Shabestani mosque and its plan is