The Collection of Historical Bridges
Iran (Islamic Republic of)Iranian Cultural Heritage, Hadicrafts and Tourism Organization
Lorestan Province
Word FileDisclaimer
The Tentative Lists of States Parties are published by the World Heritage Centre at its website and/or in working documents in order to ensure transparency, access to information and to facilitate harmonization of Tentative Lists at regional and thematic levels.
The sole responsibility for the content of each Tentative List lies with the State Party concerned. The publication of the Tentative Lists does not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever of the World Heritage Committee or of the World Heritage Centre or of the Secretariat of UNESCO concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its boundaries.
Property names are listed in the language in which they have been submitted by the State Party
Description
Iran due to its climatic diversity and great number of mounts enjoys a lot of small and big rivers that cover the whole country. A lot of huge bridges over these made the necessary connections to ease doing the business, going on pilgrimage, exchanging of art and culture sightseeing and even paving the way for invaders.
Among Iran ancient roads Shahi with a considerable number of bridges like Khoda Afarin, Pol-e Dokhtar and Gavmishan. Establishing of Sasanid dynasty made the way for flourishing of bridge construction engineering in the area like Shapouri of Khorram Abad, Shapouri of Kakareza, Shapouri of Aleshtar, Kashkan, Kalhor, Pol-e Dokhtar, Gavmishan, Kasian, Siahplleh, Zal and Poletang.
Following that in fourth century (Lunar calendar) simultaneous to Badrin of Hasanvieh huge bridges were constructed and rebuilt (like Kalhor, Pol-e Dokhtar and Gavmishan).
Justification of Outstanding Universal Value
I. Strategic location, skillful and proper link to high mounts, constructed on hard rocks, proper location for watching out arduous narrow path and valleys, triumph over big rivers and the girls name to present them to Nahid-The goddess of water. The bridge piles with 30m of height in an area of 200m, arches with 10m of width all are prominentjeatures of the time that bridge construction art was at its zenith in Iran. This style is even comparable to Pyramids in Egypt.
II. All Lorestan big historical bridges were constructed toward connecting big civilizations and in other words realizing human rights. They were built to make cultural, ethnic, economic, religious links as well as developing welfare, security and convenience in arduous mountainous area. Utilizing the most modern bridge constructing techniques of the time, a lot of magnificent andJirm bridges were built skillfully.
III. Lorestan collection of sixty historical bridges is the world most ancient and greatest over the time. Huge piles, tall arches, sizeable stones, well-ordered joints, exact water breakers, leaded fastenings, carved stones, little mortar, a vast view, beautiful recreation centers, spacious rooms, quadrangular ceilings, stair cases with different uses all gathered in a bridge.
Statements of authenticity and/or integrity
1. Locating on Shahi road flrom Susa to Hegmataneh) making use of huge carved stones, metal and leaden fastenings of the bridges and reddish mortars are among the most prominent features of bridge construction of the era.
2. Concerning the Sasanid governing territory (Shapour Khast citadel or Falakol Afak Castle in Khorram Abad) Triangular water breakers, piles, kind of mortar ,the expertise Dokhtar (was built by Mehr Nersi- the well-known minister of Ardeshir-e-Babakan) all signify that these were constructed in Sasanid era.
3. The dates carved on the stones clarify that these bridges were reconstructed in fourth century in Lunar calendar