Tehran – A historic tombstone from about 1,000 years ago was discovered during restoration work at the Douratshahi Mosque in the UNESCO-registered city of Yazd in central Iran.
Majid Olmi, director of the World Heritage Base in Yazd, announced the discovery on Monday, saying that the tombstones had been found in a small mihrab (prayer niche) at the Dauratshahi mosque in the Sausok Shahi section of the historic bazaar in the ancient city.
Olmi said the tombstone has an inscription on the Kufic script dated 493 AH (1099 AD). “It was discovered under a layer of construction materials during continuous maintenance at the mosque.”
The object measured approximately 80 x 40 cm and was embedded at a depth of 1 meter of the milfrab. After that discovery, the stone was carefully removed from the Department of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts in Yazd State under the supervision of archaeological experts and heritage conservation personnel.
The tombstone inscription contains Quran poems in two margins. The central frame of the stone refers to the title referring to the resident of the tomb, while the lower margin shows the date of death as 493 AH.
Olmi pointed out that the Douratshahi Mosque and the Sharsokshahi complex date back to the time of the Muzafarid dynasty of Yazd. He added that the tombstone era in the Kakuid dynasty can provide new historical insights into the city’s past. (Kakuiid was a Shia Muslim dynasty of Deiramite origin).
“Historical, architectural and archaeological studies on tombstones and mosque sites may reveal important information about Yazd’s history and architecture,” he said.
Olomi highlighted the need for all recovery and conservation efforts in Yazd’s historic region under Yazd’s historical supervision.
The Dauratshahi Mosque remains an important monument that reflects the medieval Islamic architecture and heritage of Yazd.
In July 2017, Yazd, the capital of the province, was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Yazd is called a fun place to stay regularly, or a destination that you “don’t miss” by almost all visitors. The city is filled with mud experts with innovative Badgars (windcatchers), atmospheric alleys and many Islamic and Iranian monuments that shape the eye-catching urban landscape.
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