EPIGRAPHIE, CALLIGRAPHIE, CODICOLOGIE, LITTERATURE / EPIGRAPHY, CALLIGRAPHY, CODICOLOGY, LITERATURE
SHOJAE-ESFAHANI Ali

Summary report

In the first phase of the documentation and studies of Taḵt-e Fūlād Cemetery, the team activities have been focused on the on-site reviewing and revising the database in the already documented part of the cemetery (Takia-e Fayż), aerial and terrestrial photogrammetry and mapping tombstones that resulted in mapping 1470 (roughly 80%) gravestones of the Takia-e Kāzeruni area as well as gravestone coding, photography, and reading and deciphering inscription texts. Combined, the information from both Tekaya Faiz and Kāzeruni sections now comprises 5123 gravestones covering an area of 6.5 hectares of the cemetery, which these two sections (Tekaya) will be accessible via the online database by the end of July 2024.

As an essential part of the project, a website has been developed to house the online database of the gravestones in Takia-e Fayż and other areas of the cemetery. The online database was created to provide better accessibility, image connectivity, and a user-friendly search interface. The Initial version of the online database for Takia-e Fayż is available, and work on improving and completing the site is ongoing. 

Detailed report

Renowned as Iran's largest and most expansive historical cemetery, the Taḵt-e Fūlād Cemetery bears evidence that dates back to, at the very least, the 10th century CE. As with other Islamic cities, this cemetery held a profound significance within Isfahan, surpassing its role as a mere burial ground. Cemeteries in Isfahan, and notably the Taḵt-e Fūlād, served as cherished spaces for ceremonies and remembrance that have given rise to a rich repository of written and oral material through time.
Despite the cemetery's historical significance, gravestones' natural and human destructions, particularly those exposed to the open air and their displacement and covert activities in the graveyard, has emerged as a substantial obstacle in recent decades. The current challenge has prompted the adoption of novel approaches to record and document information, focusing on a case-by-case basis.
To propel the project forward, which garnered approval from the Max Van Berchem Foundation, a 5-year endeavour has been set in motion to expand the recording and documentation of this burial site. The information collected through the field survey will undergo processing and integration into a web database, gradually becoming accessible to scholars, artists, and, on a more general level, all people. Although there may be potential setbacks during the program's execution, the team maintains its unwavering dedication to carrying out the project according to the outlined program. Regrettably, the implementation of the current program has experienced delays due to complications in the money transfer procedure. Nevertheless, this report has been prepared to update the foundation members about the progress made thus far and the forthcoming initiatives in the project's initial phase that now focus on the Takia-e Kāzeruni (Figs. 1-2, 6-9; Table 1). 

Report on Activities and Outcomes - February 2023 to July 2023

In 2023, after receiving the grant, the team conducted multiple field surveys in the Taḵt-e Fūlād cemetery. The main objective was to evaluate the scope of the documentation process for the second phase of the field survey. Through collaboration with the management of the Taḵt-e Fūlād complex, obtaining authorization for aerial, land mapping, and photography has begun. Due to the abundance of trees, the survey team opted to conduct aerial photogrammetry in the winter to optimize data collection. It should be noted that considering the location of the Taḵt-e Fūlād in the Airport and military aerial zones, obtaining permission to use a drone is a complicated and time-consuming process. However, after several months of intense negotiations, we were able to get the authorization for aerial photogrammetry, and the aerial mapping procedure was carried out in mid-March 2024 (Figs. 6-9).
The project delay prompted us to verify and reevaluate the on-site information previously recorded. To date, one of our primary tasks has been to carefully review and revise the database in the already documented part of the cemetery and make on-site updates to all tombstone information. This systematic approach will prove invaluable and ensures that any data-related challenges in the current or future sections can be resolved consistently once entered into the database . For the field review, all the transcribed texts from the tombstone photos were printed and cross referenced against the grave coding system, which spanned from FAZ0001 to FAZ3653, and one by one, they were checked against the actual gravestones. The meticulous process enabled us to pinpoint any illegible or damaged text that necessitated corrections, ensuring our data collection was thorough and accurate.
Reading and deciphering inscription texts of gravestones in Taḵt-e Fūlād posed several challenges. The cemetery contains gravestones from various periods and locations, each with its naming conventions. For instance, names like Ḵanum, Āqā, Soltān, Āqā Mašhadī, or Āqā jān may, in different periods, have different meanings when referring to a person. Moreover, displaying calligraphy in the same orthography, identifying and correcting errors on gravestones with physical and chemical damages, and determining the number of lines based on the margins written on some of the gravestones are a few difficulties the team faced while compiling the database. The revised version of the database, presented in this report, includes updated fields to display unreadable or erased text. The revised 4 database provides a comprehensive ground for specialized study and prevents one dimensional interpretations and analyses of the grave inscriptions in Taḵt-e Fūlād.

August 2023 to March 2024

As a project component, a website has been developed to document and catalogue information regarding the gravestones in Takia-e Fayż and other takāyā in the Taḵt-e Fulād cemetery. The previous database limitations within the Access software have necessitated the creation of an online database. This decision was made due to various constraints, such as limited accessibility, difficulties connecting images and external data, the inability to display grave locations in access, and a more user-friendly search interface. The initial website is available, which contains the grave data of Takia-e Fayż; improving and completing the site is still an ongoing process (Fig. 3).
Because of the lengthy permission process for photogrammetry with UAV, we opted for terrestrial mapping using a total station to optimize efficiency. Our team successfully mapped 1470 tombstones in the Takia-e Kāzeruni area, both inside the Takia and outside, covering an expansive 1.2 hectares (map 1; Figs. 4-5). The mapping process is now finished, and we've carefully corrected and coded all the tombstones (Fig. 6). Additionally, we've captured photographs of each tombstone and are optimizing them using related graphic softwares. The team have reviewed roughly nine hundred tombstones and plans to finish the rest by the end of May 2024.
By obtaining the official permission for aerial photogrammetry, we were able to conduct the aerial documentation at the end of March 2024, which resulted in the photogrammetry of 2.5 hectares of the cemetery (Figs. 7-9). Analyzing spatial data and linking the geo-spatial data to historical ones are in progress and will be finished by the end of July 2024.

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 Map 1: Field activities in Taḵt-e Fūlād: 2023-2024 show on GoogleEarth 

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 Fig. 1: Part of Takia-e Kāzeruni in Taḵt-e Fūlād Cemetery

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Fig. 2: Part of Takia-e Kāzeruni in Taḵt-e Fūlād Cemetery

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Fig. 3: Home Page of the Digital Database of Isfahan Historical Cemeteries 

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Fig. 4: Terrestrial mapping in the north of Takia-e Kāzeruni

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Fig. 5: Checking tombstone IDs in Takia-e Kāzeruni

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Fig. 6: Mapping and coding in a part of Takia-e Kāzeruni

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Fig. 7: An UAV image of Takia-e Kāzeruni (GSD: 1 Centimeter)

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Fig. 8: Detailed UAV image of Takia-e Kāzeruni

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Fig. 9: Main building in Takia-e Kāzeruni and the tombstones next to it in UAV image.

Programme for next season

The next season of field research will focus on conducting aerial and terrestrial photogrammetry and mapping on an area of approximately 4 hectares north of Takia e Kāzeruni. Along with the photogrammetry, we will meticulously review each gravestone on-site to rectify any potential errors. Our priority also includes addressing and correcting any glitches on the online database as we strive to launch the site's final version.
Our vision for the digital database section is to create a comprehensive and centralized platform for all the historical cemeteries of Isfahan, which enables the public's participation in its completion. The Taḵt-e Fulād cemetery is particularly intertwined with the Isfahan urban landscape and presents a remarkable opportunity for engaging in participatory information gathering. By capitalizing on the living essence of this urban space, a substantial amount of data can be systematically amassed through a participatory framework. The data collection process integrates with formulating academic sub-projects, emphasizing a comprehensive approach. This multifaceted approach encompasses collecting and organizing information about the cemetery's tangible and intangible aspects, spanning its natural and cultural heritage. Such information includes the intricate relationship between the cemetery 11 and its material culture, such as the adjacent irrigation canals, the architectural structures, and the life details of the deceased.