Chronology and Architecture of Chahartaqi ("Four Arches"): Landscape Dynamics of Persia in Late Antiquity

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Buildings known as chahartaqi constitute one of the most prominent elements of the traditional Iranian architecture. The name meaning “four arches” in Persian language, is a modern term referring to a specific architectural entity of Late Antiquity mostly developed during the Sasanian Empire (3rd-7th century CE). Such buildings consist of four pillars with four arches supporting a central dome. Hundreds of well-preserved examples or ruins of chahartaqi are currently observed all over the cultural landscape of the wider Iranian world (Iranshahr). Chahartaqi may be individual buildings but can also be observed as integrated components of more complex buildings such as the World Heritage site of Sarvestan Monument. Chahartaqi sites have long been discussed in the context of the religious landscape of antiquity and the fire temples for Zoroastrian worship practices. Although the idea of chahartaqi being a standard architectural blueprint for a Zoroastrian fire temple has persisted in academia, it has also received criticism by several scholars. The ambiguity about the functioning of the chahartaqi is particularly related to our incomplete knowledge on the absolute ages, detailed architectural characteristics and the environmental context in which they are located. These three aspects will be the study objects of CHARTAQ. We hypothesize that: (i) most of the isolated chahartaqi or chahartaqi complexes currently found in the Iranian plateau are dated to the Sasanian period with a concentration in the Greater Fars; (ii) current chahartaqi structures were parts of multi-functional complexes located within a certain distance to each other on nodal points alongside communication routes in antiquity; (iii) chahartaqi locations were pre-planned according to a series of criteria related to natural elements (proximity to water resources, elevated places, and possibly vegetation) and cultural landscape (settlements and urban complexes). To test these hypotheses, we will study a selection of chahartaqi based on different criteria including the availability of archival resources, suitable dating materials, and archaeological data. These sites will be investigated through three work packages (WP1: Historical Review; WP2: Archaeometry; WP3: Landscape Archaeology) in an interdisciplinary approach closely integrating the history of architecture, archaeometrical methods and approaches to landscape archaeology. The project will provide invaluable new scientific data and knowledge on the Late Antique archaeological sites of Persia as a significant cultural heritage of the humanity. For several places the evaluation will also prove their potential to be nominated as World Heritage sites. The results will be presented in scientific journals, but also in free interactive and open access facilities in accordance to the educational mission and intellectual responsibility of humanities and social sciences.