Recognition of Effective Factors of the Formation of Historical Cemeteries By Focusing on Historical Cemeteries of Tehran

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Ph. D. Candidate in Conservation of Historic Monuments & Fabrics, Isfahan University of Arts, Iran.

2 Department of Architecture & Urbanism, Isfahan University of Arts, Iran

3 Department of Architecture & Urbanism, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran

Abstract

Problem Statement: As everlasting places, cemeteries have the same history as the cities they are located. Historical cemeteries acts as collective memory of the society and represent the identity of their primitive participants. Although academic researchers and experts emphasis on different values lied in the burial landscapes and their important role in the society, there is no precise definition for the concept of historical cemeteries. This issue, added to other factors, like various attitudes of modernity facing the concept of life and death, destructive interventions and inappropriate urban legislations, rapid development of urban areas, modern vandalism and the passive approach of relative sciences like urban planning & management and conservation etc. caused historical cemeteries to face different perturbation.
Aims: Emphasizing on the importance of historic cemeteries as a principal component of human settlements, the present study tries to give an appropriate answer to these questions: What is the definition of a Historic Cemetery? Which elements are important in the formation process of these historical sites?
Research Method: Using hermeneutical approach to read the cemetery as a text, this research uses the Grounded Theory (GT) methodology (Open Coding, axial Coding & Selective Coding) to analyze the environmental data gathered from four case studies in Tehran (Ibn Babawayh, Emamzadeh Abdullah, Dulab Armenian Cemetery & Zahir-ol-Doleh).
Conclusion: Iran historic cemeteries are formed by six main components (context, urban fabric, socio-cultural factors, history, physical ingredients and landscape) and can be classified in two categories (Internal & External Paradigm). A data-based theory shows that historical cemeteries are, in fact, cultural landscapes. By definition, these cemeteries consist of sets dating back more than 100 years and having a designated area. The obvious characteristic of such a landscape is a fundamental connection between its internal layers with the surrounding context that is a combination of natural and manufactured elements itself. Enriched by monuments, sculptures and abstract motives, these places have different religious, socio-cultural & monumental aspects and are respected by various groups of the society (local, township, regional & country). Iranian historical cemeteries express a fundamental relation between urban landscape, historical factors, human organization power and undeniable role of water and plants, enriching the existing fabrics through architectural and artistic concepts. Presence of symbols and mythical believes, as well as architectural monuments and historic events occurred in such places, bring a new essence into the burial fields that is both culturally and historically prosperous. By adding a ‘historical’ adjective to cemetery, this could be a subject of a specified discipline entitled ‘the Eco-historical environments’ that needs to provide an appropriate platform to guarantee the constant life of cemeteries as collective memorials of the cities.

Keywords


• Aris, P. (2012). History of Death (M. J. Abdullahi, Trans.) Tehran: Elm Press.
• Bani Masoud, A. (2011). Contemporary architecture of Iran. Tehran: Honare Memari Publication.
• Behzadfar, M. (2012). Hoviat-e Shahr [Identity of the City]. Tehran: Nashr-e Shahr.
• Berg, Sh. P. (1992). Approaches to Landscape Preservation. Treatment at Mount Auburn Cemetery. APT Bulletin, 24(3/4), 52-58.
• Colvin, H. (1991). Architecture and the Afterlife. New Haven: Yale University Press.
• Curl, J. S. (1993). A Celebration of Death. London: Batsford.
• Curl, J. S. (1999). Oxford Dictionary of Architecture. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
• Curl, J. S. (2001). Kensal Green Cemetery: the Origins and Development of the General Cemetery of All Souls. Kensal Green, London, 1824-2001. London: Phillimore.
• Darnall, M (1983). The American Cemetery as Picturesque Landscape: Bellefontaine, St. Louis. Winterthur Portfolio, 18(4), 249-269.
• Emarat-e Khorshid Consultant Engineers. (2010). Revitalization Design of Ibn Babawayh Historic Cemetery.
• Faizi, M. Razzaghi Asl, S. (2010). Gurestan-ha be masabeye manazer-e farhangi [Cemeteries as a Cultural Landscapes]. Iranshahr Journal, (13), 20-24.
• Farboum Pars Shahr Consultant Engineers. (2014). Organization Plan of Dar-ol-Salam Historic Cemetery.
• Francis, D. (2008). Cemeteries as cultural landscapes. Mortality: Promoting the interdisciplinary study of death and dying, 8(2), 222-227.
• Francis, D., Kelleher, L. & Neophytou, G. (2003). The Secret Cemetery. Oxford: Berg.
• Ghahremani, Y. (2015). Conservation Plan of Zahir-ol-Dolleh Historic Cemetery. Unpublished M.A. thesis, Islamic Azad University, Central Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran.
• Harei, M.R et al. (2004). Organization Plans for Tehran Historic & Abandoned Cemeteries, Volume 1-82. Tehran: Iran Cultural Studies Publication.
• Harei, M. R. (2005). Recognition of Tehran Historic Cemeteries. Behesht-e-Zahra Research Institute
• Karami, F. (2013). Introducing and analyzing of the concepts of motifs of the gravestones of the Guran region. Unpublished M.A. dissertation, Tabriz University of Islamic Arts, Tabriz, Iran.
• Kariman, H. (1966). Rey-e bastan [Ancient Ray]. Tehran: Nashr-e anjoman-e aasar-e meli.
• King, G. K. (2004). Michigan Historic Cemetery Preservation Manual. Michigan: Michigan State Historic Preservation Office.
• Kolbuszewski, J. (1995). Cemeteries as a text of culture. In O. Czerner & I. Juszkiewicz (Eds.), Cemetery art. Wroclaw: ICOMOS.
• Mansoori, K. & Masoud, M. (2015). Historic Cemeteries as Cultural Landscapes. Boum Journal, (3).
• Mansourian, Y. (2007). Grounded Theory: Inductive theorizing based on real data, Journal management system. Memar Journal. (2010). Death Special issue, (63).
• Meyer, R. E. (Ed.) (1992). Cemeteries and Grave markers: Voices of American Culture, Logan. Utah: Utah State University Press.
• Meyer, R. E. (Ed.). (1993). Ethnicity and the American Cemetery, Bowling Green. OH: Bowling Green State University Popular Press.
• Meyer, R. (1997). Cemeteries. In G. Goreham (Ed.), Encyclopedia of rural America. Oxford: ABCClio.
• Miller, D. Sh. & Rivera, J. D. (2006). The Cemetery and the Creation of Place, Space and Culture, (9), 334-351.
• Oqabi, M. M. (1999). Aramgah-ha-ye Iran [Historic Tombs of Iran], Tehran: RCICA.
• Parsapajouh, S. (2010). Gurestan az ebteda takonun [Cemeteries from the beginning till now]. Iranshahr Journal, 4(13), 24-31.
• Parsi, F. (2008). Mohit-ha-ye tarikhi tabiee [Eco Historical Environments, a New concepts in Conservation Field], Haftshahr Journal, (12), 78-82.
• Parsi, F. (2013). Interview with researcher.
• Reimers, E. (1999). Death and identity: graves and funerals as cultural communication. Mortality, 4 (2), 147-166.
• Rezaei, M. (2004). Afarinesh va marg dar asatir [Creation and Death in Mythology], Tehran: Asatir Publication.
• Rugg, J. (1998). The emergence of a new burial form: cemetery development in the first half of the nineteenth century. In M. COX (Ed.), Grave matters: a history of burial 1700- 1850. NewYork: Council for British Archaeology.
• Rugg, J. (2010). Defining the place of burial: What makes a cemetery a cemetery? Mortality: Promoting the interdisciplinary study of death and dying, 5(3), 259-275.
• Sazvarno Consultant Engineers. (2000). A Research on Zahirol-Doleh Historic Cemetery.
• Strauss, A. & Corbin, J. (2012). Basics of qualitative research:techniques and procedures for developing grounded theory. (B. Mohammedi, Trans.). Tehran: Institute for Humanities and Cultural Studies.
• Taylor, T. (2000). Beyond the Grave. Alton: Whitechapel Productions Press.
• Tehran Beautification Organization. (2016). Strategic Document for the Sustainable Development of Historical Cemeteries.District 14.
• Vazirizadeh, A. (2009). Seir-e tahavol-e gurestan-ha-ye tarikhi-ye shahr-e Tehran [Evolution of Historical Cemeteries in Tehran].Iranshahr Journal, 4 (13), 64-72.
• Worpole, K. (2003). Last landscapes: the architecture of the cemetery in the West. London: Reaktion.