Archaeological insights from Bazeh Hur in Khorasan Razavi Province
Archaeologists, after seven seasons of excavation at the historical site of Bazeh Hur in Khorasan Razavi Province, have concluded that the discovered fire temple at this location is the largest and most significant fire temple in the northeastern cultural region of the Iranian Plateau during the pre-Islamic era. It is likely the same fire temple referred to in Sassanid religious and historical texts as Azar Barzin Mehr.
The Bazeh Hur historical site, situated 75 kilometers southeast of Mashhad and adjacent to the village of Rabat-e Sefid, is recognized as one of the most important Sassanid settlement sites. Covering an area of 20 hectares, Bazeh Hur comprises a settlement, a cemetery, and two groups of religious architecture, notably featuring a four-arch stone structure located at its northern edge. This structure was registered as the first listed monument of Khorasan on Iran’s National Heritage List in 1931. Archaeological excavations that commenced in 2018 on the southern side of this site led to the identification of architectural remains of a Sassanid fire temple that remained active into the early Islamic period before being ultimately destroyed by a significant earthquake.
The seventh season of excavation at the Bazeh Hur site has recently concluded, following a contract between the Cultural Heritage Research Institute and the University of Tehran’s Department for Communication with Industry and Society. Meisam Labaf Khaniki, an associate professor in the Department of Archaeology at the University of Tehran and head of the Bazeh Hur archaeological team, discussed the results of this season’s work. He noted that archaeological activities at this historical site since 2014 have uncovered valuable evidence related to architectural styles, decorations, pottery traditions, literature, and the practice of Zoroastrian rituals in Khorasan prior to the advent of Islam.
In alignment with the defined objectives, this season’s excavation aimed to address existing uncertainties regarding the quality of architectural decorations on the southern front of the Qaleh Dokhtar fire temple and to identify the nature of the architectural spaces adjacent to the fire temple.
Labaf Khaniki stated that targeted excavations in specific workshops yielded valuable remnants of wall paintings, plasterwork, and figural ornaments found in their original locations. These findings contribute significantly to our understanding of pre-Islamic art and architecture in eastern Iran and the decorative methods employed in religious architectural complexes.
Furthermore, he mentioned that excavations in the workshops located within the enclosed area south of the fire temple provided valuable information about the quality of the surrounding wall architecture, the shape and function of architectural spaces, as well as a unique assemblage of pottery spanning from the Parthian period to the early Islamic era.
Labaf Khaniki emphasized that the seventh season of archaeological work at the historical site of Bazeh Hur has confirmed previous hypotheses, demonstrating that the uncovered fire temple is indeed the largest and most significant fire temple in the northeastern cultural region of the Iranian Plateau during the pre-Islamic era. This temple is likely the same one referred to in Sassanid religious and historical texts as Azar Barzin Mehr.
He concluded by stressing the extraordinary importance of this site in architectural history and the unique role of this fire temple in elucidating the social, political, and cultural history of Iran. Therefore, it is essential for relevant organizations and institutions to make timely decisions and implement practical measures to preserve and protect this invaluable historical site.