Thermoluminescence Analysis of Bricks from the so-called Arch of Ali Shah
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1558/jia.19031Keywords:
Ilkhanid architecture, Timurid architecture, Mosque of Ali-Shah, Mausoleum of Ali-Shah, Memorial Architecture, Religious ArchitectureAbstract
The application of Thermally (TL) and Optically (OSL) Stimulated Luminescence on bricks used as building material can answer questions regarding the chronology of historical buildings. The remarkable historical reports of the “largest ever made brick vault” known as the Arch of Ali Shah (14th century) invoke the image of a gigantic structure adjoining the u-shaped brick monument in Tabriz. However, there is new scientific data that has led us to consider an alternate hypothesis regarding this monument that contradicts the traditional views of scholars. The attribution of this controversial building to Ali Shah, the great vizier of the Ilkhanid court, has long been considered an historical fact by scholars. To better understand the evolution of this unique structure, thermoluminescence (TL) was used to propose a relative dating for its construction. Surprisingly, the results yielded dates of 512±20, 514±27 and 517±21 AD (TL age, equaling 17th century), indicating that the u-shaped structure was built some 200 years after the Ilkhanid era. These dates, supplemented with historical context and architectural evidence, leads to the conclusion that it was used as a separate building before being integrated into the older building, thereby converting the entire complex into a formidable fortification. The remains of the so called Arch of Ali Shah are clearly of a later date, characterizing a completely different architectural style than those of the Ilkhanid period.
References
Ajorloo, B., and B. Mansouri.
"Architecture of Azerbaijan in Ilkhanid Era. The case study: A new archaeological research on the Ark of Ali Shah in Tabriz." Paper presented at the Proceedings of the 5th conference of the Societas Iranologica Europea, Milan, Itay.
Ajorloo, B.
"Ivani Tabriz." Historical Investigation 4(10): 12-16.
Amiri, M.
Diaries of Venetians in Iran. Edited and translated by M. Amiri. Tehran: Khawrazmi Publications.
Bailiff, I. K.
"Methodological developments in the luminescence dating of brick from English late-medieval and post-medieval buildings." Archaeometry 49(4): 827-851. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-4754.2007.00338.x
Bailiff, I. K. and N. Holland.
"Dating bricks of the last two millennia from Newcastle upon Tyne: a preliminary study." Radiation Measurements 32(5-6): 615-619. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1350-4487(99)00286-3
Blain, S.
"TL-dating applied to building archaeology: The case of the medieval church; Notre-Dame-Sous-Terre (Mont-Saint-Michel, France)." Radiation Measurements 42(9): 1483-1491. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radmeas.2007.07.015
Blair, Sh., and J. Bloom.
The art and architecture of Islam (1250-1800). New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.
Brambilla, M. G.
"La communita ed il cimitero Armeno di Sultaniya." In Studi e Restauri di Architettura Italia-Iran, 87-93. Rome: Istituto Italiana di Cultura a Tehran.
Carreri, G.
Carreri's Dairy. Translated by M. Abbasy. Vol. 2. Tehran: Amirkabir Publication.
Chardin, J.
Journal du voyage du chevalier Chardin en Perse et aux Indes Orientales par la Mer Noire et par la Colchide. Paris: Daniel Horthemels.
Chruscinska, A., B. Jesionowski, H. Oczkowski and K. Przegietka.
"Using the TL single-aliquot regenerative-dose protocol for the verification of the chronology of the Teutonic Order Castle in Malbork." Geochronometria 30: 61-67. https://doi.org/10.2478/v10003-008-0006-9
Chruscinska. A.
"Luminescence dating of bricks from the Gothic Saint James Church in Torun." Geochronometria 41:4: 352-360. https://doi.org/10.2478/s13386-013-0165-y
Flandin, E. and P. Coste.
Voyage en Perse. Tehran: Islamic Revolution & Educational Publication.
Giyasi, J.
Me'mar Xacedlisah Tebrizi: Dovru & Yaradiciligi. Baku: Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences.
Grogler, N., F. G. Houtermans, and H. Stauffer.
"Uber die Datierung von Keramik und Ziegel durch Thermolumineszenz." Helvetica Physica Acta 33: 595-596.
Gueli, A., G. Stella, S. O. Troja, G. Burrafato, D. Fontana, G. Ristuccia and A. Zuccarello.
"Historical buildings: Luminescence dating of fine grains from bricks and mortar." Il Nuovo Cimento B 125: 5-6: 719-729.
Gueli, A., G. Stella, S. O. Troja, G. Burrafato, G. Margani and A. Zuccarello.
"Absolute dating of the Cuba of Santa Domenica (Messina, Italy)." Il Nuovo Cimento B 124(8): 885-891.
Guibert, P., I. Bailiff, S. Blain, A. Gueli, M. Martini, E. Sibilia, G. Stella and S. O. Troja.
"Luminescence dating of architectural ceramics from an early medieval abbey: The St Philbert Intercomparison (Loire Atlantique, France)." Radiation Measurements 44(5-6): 488-493. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radmeas.2009.06.006
Hillenbrand, R.
Islamic Architecture: Form, Function, and Meaning. New York: Columbia University Press.
Ibn Battuta, Shams al-Din' Abu 'Abd al-La h Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Lah I-Lawati.
Rihla. Edited by H. Gibb. London: Routledge and Kegan.
Kennedy, G. C. and L. Knopff.
"Dating by thermoluminescence." Archaeology 13: 147-148.
Kleiss, W.
"Notiz zur Ali Shah Moschee in Tabriz." Archaologische Mitteilungen aus Iran 14: 117-126.
Mansouri, A., and B. Ajorloo.
"Recognition of Ark of Ali Shah in Tabriz & Its Main Function." Honar-Ha-Ye-Ziba 16: 57-68.
Munshi Kirmani, Naser 'al-Din.
Nasa'im Al-As'har Min Lata'im Al-Akhbar Dar Tarikh-IVozara. Tehran: Tehran University Press.
Moradi, A. and F. Pashaei Kamali.
Construction methods of Ilkhanid Iran and its accordance with Gothic architecture. Tabriz: Shayesteh Publication.
Moradi, A.
The Northwest's Iran placements according to Matragchi's miniatures. Tehran: Institute for Humanities and Cultural Studies.
Moradi, A. and M. Hoseinpour.
"Was there ever an arch in the so-called Ark-e-Ali Shah?" Nexus Network Journal 22: 329-348. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00004-019-00460-5
Moradi, A., and B. Omrani.
"An exploration of historical recognition and decorations of Alaki Caravansary." Bagh-e-Nazar 11(28): 71-82.
Mustufi, Hamd 'Allah.
Nizhat 'al-Gulub, edited by M. Dabir. Tehran: Ebnesina Publication.
Pope, A. U. and Ph. Ackerman.
The Architecture of the Islamic Period: The Fourteenth Century. A Survey of Persian Art from Prehistoric Times to the Present. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Sarfaraz, A.
"Archaeological reports of Ali Shah Jame Mosque." Tehran: Cultural Heritage Organization.
Vieillevigne, E., P. Guibert, F. Bechtel and P. Leriche.
"Thermoluminescence et chronologie du bati medieval: datation de briques de la citadelle de Termez en Ozbekistan." Revue d' Archeometrie 28: 43-55. https://doi.org/10.3406/arsci.2004.1061
Wilber, D.
The Architecture of Islamic Iran, The Il Khanid Period. Translated by A. Faryar. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
