Khorasan Historical Sites Sorely Need Concern
January 13, 1998 - 0:0
TEHRAN So far some 1400 historical and cultural sites, remaining from past, have been identified,'' said Zabihollah Kholoosi the head of Khorasan Province Cultural Heritage Office. The sites include various buildings of ancient Qale' Tapeh (Qale' Hill) and also ancient historical caves in different parts of Khorasan,'' he said. He said some 300 of these sites have been identified and recorded as national heritage.
Insensitivity in the past has was the main reason for the destruction of the sites because of natural events or unreasonable destruction factors,'' said he. Kholoosi said some 400 of these sites some of which have been recorded as national heritage are in dire need of renovation. He gave the priority of renovation to Kakh-e Khorshid (The Palace of Sun) and Masjed Jame' (Jame' Mosque) in Kalat district remaining from Afsharieh era.
Renovation activities of these two buildings started before the Islamic Revolution but is still continuing because of a lack of sufficient allocations. In the circumstances the renovation activities of the said buildings will not be finished in less than 20 years,'' said he. The present year's credit for the renovation of Kakh-e Khorshid and Masjed Jame' has been around 200 million rials, according to Kholoosi. The head of Khorasan Cultural Heritage Office added that in order to finish the job by implementing a 3-year plan some 5 billion rials expenses has been estimated.
During the renovation work of historical sites in Kalat a garden was excavated from under the Kakh-e Khorshid decorated with fountains, having the features of Afsharieh era. After cleansing the dome of dust appeared some Qoranic verses to give the story of an ancient tomb. Kholoosi said prolongation of the renovation activities and to some extent periodical interruption in the routine of repair works fuel the process of destruction, causing large amounts of money squandered.
He suggested that the process of allocating become faster. In the present year some 2.4 billion rials has been allocated to renovating Khorasan historical sites'', said Kholoosi, but during the past 10 months we have only received 60 percent of that amount.'' Kholoosi said only 30 renovation projects are under implementation in Khorasan, 20 of which are last year's projects. The head of Khorasan Cultural Heritage Office said preservation of the structure of old localities of Khorasan such as water cellars, old public bathrooms, wind and water mills, and rural and urban architecture are the office's plans under way.
He said during the recent years hundreds of such sites and buildings have been destroyed as a result of construction plans activities in the cities and the country as well as in mine-spotting operations. Working efficiently on some of these buildings, we are hopeful to make some training and cultural centers, gymnasiums, and traditional tea houses in some of them.
Insensitivity in the past has was the main reason for the destruction of the sites because of natural events or unreasonable destruction factors,'' said he. Kholoosi said some 400 of these sites some of which have been recorded as national heritage are in dire need of renovation. He gave the priority of renovation to Kakh-e Khorshid (The Palace of Sun) and Masjed Jame' (Jame' Mosque) in Kalat district remaining from Afsharieh era.
Renovation activities of these two buildings started before the Islamic Revolution but is still continuing because of a lack of sufficient allocations. In the circumstances the renovation activities of the said buildings will not be finished in less than 20 years,'' said he. The present year's credit for the renovation of Kakh-e Khorshid and Masjed Jame' has been around 200 million rials, according to Kholoosi. The head of Khorasan Cultural Heritage Office added that in order to finish the job by implementing a 3-year plan some 5 billion rials expenses has been estimated.
During the renovation work of historical sites in Kalat a garden was excavated from under the Kakh-e Khorshid decorated with fountains, having the features of Afsharieh era. After cleansing the dome of dust appeared some Qoranic verses to give the story of an ancient tomb. Kholoosi said prolongation of the renovation activities and to some extent periodical interruption in the routine of repair works fuel the process of destruction, causing large amounts of money squandered.
He suggested that the process of allocating become faster. In the present year some 2.4 billion rials has been allocated to renovating Khorasan historical sites'', said Kholoosi, but during the past 10 months we have only received 60 percent of that amount.'' Kholoosi said only 30 renovation projects are under implementation in Khorasan, 20 of which are last year's projects. The head of Khorasan Cultural Heritage Office said preservation of the structure of old localities of Khorasan such as water cellars, old public bathrooms, wind and water mills, and rural and urban architecture are the office's plans under way.
He said during the recent years hundreds of such sites and buildings have been destroyed as a result of construction plans activities in the cities and the country as well as in mine-spotting operations. Working efficiently on some of these buildings, we are hopeful to make some training and cultural centers, gymnasiums, and traditional tea houses in some of them.