چكيده لاتين :
Takab-e Afshar in the north - west of Iran, in a mountainous area near the cities of Dandi in Zanjan, and Takab in west Azerbaijan, lies a complex of historical and natural properties among which stands the world heritage properties of Takht-e soleyman with all its features. The present protective buffers for this site have been defined without considering the natural and cultural landscape that are the major criteria having unique roles in their development. In this study, modern technologies like satellite data processing and image analysis have been applied besides field studies and environmental interpretations together with different scientific data such as geology, botany, hydrology, hydrogeology, Tectonic, and etc. Studying the historical, natural and cultural context and consistency of Takab-e Afshar region can lead to identifying a more suitable protective margin for integrated conservation of Takht-e soleyman cultural landscape as a unified concept and also prevent its destruction.
Integrated conservation is one of the new issues in protecting natural/historical sites. In this category the position of historical monuments is evaluated in a wider domain called cultural landscape and these monuments are considered to be parts of the environment of the natural bed of this landscape. In the new perspective we are given, historical monuments placed along side the natural factors and ecological features are conserved and renovated. Therefore recognizing the natural characteristics of the area such as elevation features, geomorphology, hydrology and hydrogeology (including springs and Qantas and underground waters), plant features, land use (in the form of agricultural fields, farms and gardens and native jungles), pedology and other environmental features and their interaction with human life with their constant interference and settlements, industries, roads, farms, etc. gains major significance. These considerable studies reveal the ongoing changes of landscapes in the course of time. Because natural features all together create a dynamic context for the formation and completion of human-made features which in turn interact with above features and change.
Takab-e Afshar area is located in the far south-east of Western Azerbaijan province and Miando-aab. The area is surrounded by Hashtrood (north-west), Zanjan (north-east), Shahin Dej (west) and Divandarre and Saqez (South and south-west) and finally Bijar (South-east). Takab has 102 villages and one small town named Takht-e soleyman. The most important permanent river flowing in Takab is Sarooq which also provides part of Takabʹs potable water. The area which is called Takab-e Afshar today has tens of historical monuments belonging to pre and post Islamic eras. This area was home to ancient tribes such as Lolobi and Guti and later the Manena government was formed there and after 7th Century B.C and the formation of Persian government it became one of their prominent economy supporters. During the archeological exploration and probing of the area objects and pieces belonging to Achaemenid era was
discovered in Zendan Soleiman and Takht-e soleyman._ These probing also have shown that during Arsacid era and Sassanid eras, Takab was the center of many of the great civilizations, examples of which include stone monuments of Karafto cave west of Takab and also Sassanid monuments in Belgheis Mountains east of current Takht-e soleyman.
Taking the general purpose of the study into consideration and introducing the natural historical bed and Takab-e Afshar cultural landscape in terms of a cultural landscape, in the process of studies, an analysis of natural bed characteristics plus the historical and archeological features of the monument and works scattered throughout the plains and along Sarooq river valley, has been carried out. The criteria of analysis have been identified based on the modern definitions of cultural landscape in international conventions. Due to the variety of cultural landscapes in different countries, presence of different natural bed variables, human and cultural resources and what has been left from ancient civilizations all over the world, the cultural landscape criteria have gradually got accomplished during several conventions. In this study, modern technologies like satellite data processing and image analysis have been applied besides field studies and environmental interpretations together with different scientific data such as geology, botany, hydrology, hydrogeology, Tectonic, and etc.
The vast study came to the conclusion that natural landscapes of Takab-e Afshar, Takht-e soleyman area have a significant role in the formation of both ancient civilizations and their physical structures and todayʹs human life in the form of scattered villages. This study emphasizes on the role of land structures in the formation of the cultural aspect of the area as well. Regarding the fact that the load of the areaʹs magnificent and powerful culture lies in the historical monuments of it, it is important that more effort be put in preserving and protecting them while taking into account natural and structural changes of the features.
According to the above paragraph the connections of the areaʹs natural and cultural bed with the environment was carefully observed and studied (to learn more about the origins of Takht-e soleyman Lake and Zendan Soleiman Mountains and other examples as such) and the result shows that the amazing structure originating from spring sediments and other travertan features which forms Takht-e soleyman has been a suitable bed for building towers and other constructions there. On the other hand the areaʹs ecological features have been effective in completing and developing its landscape. The existence of water as a critical factor for the settlement of human is very significant. Looking at the historical evidence and the natural bed of the area we find out that abundant water resources have always existed there and the existence of springs, multiple qanats and Sarooq and Qagoor Rivers are proof to this claim. Climate has also influenced the emergence of human populations in mountainous flats where they needed the plant features to do farming activities. So it is quite understandable why people may have settled in this mountainous area with prolific flats and moderate winter and summer climate.
Green valleys, rich pastures, seasonal and permanent water flows and other natural potentials have made the area completely suitable for settlement. The natural landscape with tall mountains, valleys, full flowing rivers, green and prolific flats, gardens and fields has connected the ancient city of Shiz to its surroundings. On the other hand the environmental conditions play a critical role in supporting life protecting factors like economy in society and the existence of natural barriers such as mountains and rivers along with manmade features like towers helped keep the region secure and safe. The Takht-e soleyman tower being placed on top of a hill above the plain gives the area beautiful scenery while also protecting it against invaders and other threats. In the end it can be said that all of the different environmental, economical and social conditions have contributed to the formation and completion of the Takht-e soleyman complex.
This paper is based on a study named "Documentary the Cultural landscape of Takab-e Afshar region by using remote sensing".
Hereby we would like to thank Dr. Mehrdadi, research executive who was of great assistance in completing this research paper, and Mr. Bahram Samani who helped process the data from the satellite (Fig.4).
Z Zendane Soleyman Mountain N Nosrat abad village T Takhte soleyman
Fig.4: Satellite image processing features of the natural structure of the region
