Arg-e Bam

The historical citadel of Bam which more than two thousand years has stood in the heart of the desert of Iran is the world's largest mud and brick building that is built and expanded in different historical periods. This historical citadel is registered simultaneously in the World Heritage List and in Danger List of World Heritage during the twenty-seventh session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee after the massive earthquake in Bam in 1382 and efforts of Iranian expert for preparing the emergency document.
Within the Bam earthquake and registration of citadel and Bam cultural landscape in the World Heritage List, global and international experts came and helped the Iranian expert and people like Francesco Bandarin, head of the World Heritage Committee, Koichiro Matsuura, head of UNESCO, French Minister of Culture, ICOMOS head and many other experts and cultural authorities came to Bam to investigate this historical monument.

History of Arg-e Bam

Bam with its high mountains and rich groundwater is located 193 kilometers in southeast of Kerman. For this reason, this city has two types of weather cold and mountainous and warm and dry.
Bam is one of the oldest urban centers. Bidrun historic hills in 10 km in the north and fire hill in Darestan 30 km away in the East which is belonged to the second and fourth millennia BC is its archeological evidence.
Life in Bam and around Bam is established six thousand years ago and in a period of history, they focused in a place which is called Arg.
Bam due to locating in the way of one of the most important international highways in the ancient times was named Spice way. It was one of the main and important branches of Silk Road, the trade route between East and West which has an important strategic significance.
Silk weaving industry was reached Bam from China and Spice Road (by India).
Large cities such as Narmashir, Rigan, Darzin, and Sana was in the region and these cities were developed until the sixth century AD and they destroyed in the next periods. In addition to Arg-e Bam, the remained monuments of these cities such as Pir Mah Shah castle (Afzal Abad), Jamali castle, Darestan, Ghalea (Ghalea Shahid), Naeim Abad castle and other monuments can be seen in this region that indicate the ancient civilization and prosperity of this region.
Arg-e Bam which, in the ancient times was the city of Bam, is located in the northeast of Bam on top and huge rocky slopes built of mud and brick. The history of Arg-e Bam according to historical documents backs to Ḥodūd al-Alam and Vaziri history about two thousand years ago. Arg-e Bam up to 180 years ago was still the residence of some people of Bam.
Arg-e Bam consisted of the old town and castle, about 20 hectares (the length of the west side is 520 m and the wide is 430 m) and the distance of Arg and castle was 6 ha.
There was a deep trench around the castle, which protected the castle from the onslaughts. 38 guard towers were on the walls of the castle in certain intervals.
Governor's mansion was built predominantly on natural rock in the middle of the castle, which had 5 floors and was made of mud and brick.
The remaining columns and arches in the Arg-e Bam, bakeries, and oil shop and brick shelves is a sign of flourishing at that time.
In the Islamic era, two mosques named Masjed Jame and mosque of the Prophet Muhammad and include a courtyard, a two-story symmetric porch, and some rooms was built in the historical castle of Bam and all of them were destroyed in the earthquake.
There was a gymnasium in Arg-e Bam like the style of other traditional venues with four porches, one hollow and dome, which were destroyed too.
Arg-e Bam only had one entrance. Its entrance arch was comparable to the Sassanid era porch. Lotf Ali Khan Zand was arrested in this castle by Mohammad Ali Khan Zaboli, the governor of Zabul and the last waging war was occurred in this castle.
Arg-e Bam was residential until 1254.

Arg-e Bam after earthquake

After the earthquake in Bam, wide efforts at national and international level were done for saving precious historical legacy of this area. From the first days of the earthquake, the Iranian delegation led by Mohammad Ali Talebian were present at the citadel walls and after a careful surveying the damages and consultation with international experts, they began to robust construction of this monument.
After the earthquake in Bam, Eight Working Committee were responsible for documentary, international activities, security, public relations, technical, administrative, and public assistance tasks.
During these years that have passed since the earthquake, the outer walls and the surrounding environment, barracks, mosque, freezer, Sistani home and the entrance is robust. Also, the healthy points which could fall by aftershocks were strengthened by scaffolding.
After the establishment of the Bam brick workshop, which is one of the largest and best equipped workshops in the Middle East, the required clay was supplied to repair Arg-e Bam using local mines and the help of national and international experts and then we will witness of restoring this castle.
Currently, Bam saving projects are investigating the documents, maps and photographs of the remains of Bam to be able to return to the glory and greatness of this historical castle.