Experts urge protection for Javin’s ancient hand-carved architecture
Javin village, located in Semnan Province, not only has the capacity for national heritage registration but also holds potential for recognition on a global scale.
A cultural heritage enthusiast, Hossein Tarhomi, highlighted the village’s unique hand-carved structures in an interview with ISNA. He noted, “Unfortunately, little attention has been paid so far to the architecture of Javin and several other villages in the region, including Abdollahabad.”
A member of the Scientific Committee of Master Craftsmen and Ancient Technologies of ICOMOS-Iran, he added that last year a report was prepared and published on the region’s distinctive hand-carved architecture, particularly in the villages of Javin, Ij and Abdollahabad.
“Around 10 to 12 years ago, Iran’s Cultural Heritage Organization conducted research on Javin, which led to the national registration of the village’s hand-carved castle,” he said.
He explained that Javin features terraced architecture, with some houses containing hand-carved sections that have received little attention. “In previous studies of this historic village, several structures, including its bathhouse, were overlooked,” he noted.
According to him, Javin is a unique village in Semnan Province with structures such as a Seljuk or Ilkhanid mihrab and a hand-carved castle that have not yet been nationally registered.
Tarhomi emphasized the need for national registration of the village, warning: “The lack of official recognition has made it difficult to protect the village’s ancient architecture, as construction in the village is often carried out without consideration for the heritage value of its buildings, which damages the authenticity of the architecture.”
He further stressed that both the village fabric and its historic bathhouse should be registered, adding that raising awareness and educating the local community could help better preserve the village.
He also mentioned that Abdollahabad village has a hand-carved castle and houses with similar architecture. Likewise, Ij village contains hand-carved structures both within the village and in surrounding areas.
Highlighting that Javin is a living village with ongoing daily life, he expressed concern about the threat to some structures in these villages. “The construction of concrete and metal structures within the traditional village fabric and the operation of a nearby mine pose threats to the historical heritage. In contrast, Abdollahabad has a limited population and almost no new construction,” he explained.
Javin village is located 42 kilometers from Sorkheh, in the central district of the province. Among its registered historical sites are a historic castle, a Seljuk mihrab, and a wooden pulpit of Imamzadeh Abdollah. The mountainous village sits along the Javin River and on the southern slope of the Mian-Tigh Mountain, at the southern edge of the Alborz Mountain.