World Heritage Identification Number: 1208
World Heritage since: 2004
Category: Cultural Heritage
WHE Type: Cultural Landscapes
Transboundary Heritage: No
Endangered Heritage: No
Country: 🇮🇷 Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Continent: Asia
UNESCO World Region: Asia and the Pacific
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Bam and its Cultural Landscape: An Oasis City in the Heart of Iran's Desert
Bam and its Cultural Landscape, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004, is a captivating testament to human ingenuity and resilience in one of the harshest environments on Earth – the Iranian desert. Situated on the southern edge of the Iranian high plateau, this ancient city has a rich history that spans over two millennia.
More to come…UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site
Bam is situated in a desert environment on the southern edge of the Iranian high plateau. The origins of Bam can be traced back to the Achaemenid period (6th to 4th centuries BC). Its heyday was from the 7th to 11th centuries, being at the crossroads of important trade routes and known for the production of silk and cotton garments. The existence of life in the oasis was based on the underground irrigation canals, the qanāts, of which Bam has preserved some of the earliest evidence in Iran. Arg-e Bam is the most representative example of a fortified medieval town built in vernacular technique using mud layers (Chineh ).
UNESCO Justification of the World Heritage Site
Criterion (ii): Bam developed at the crossroads of important trade routes at the southern side of the Iranian high plateau, and it became an outstanding example of the interaction of the various influences.
Criterion (iii): The Bam and its Cultural Landscape represent an exceptional testimony to the development of a trading settlement in the desert environment of the Central Asian region.
Criterion (iv): The city of Bam represents an outstanding example of a fortified settlement and citadel in the Central Asian region, based on the use mud layer technique (chineh) combined with mud bricks (khesht).
Criterion (v): The cultural landscape of Bam is an outstanding representation of the interaction of man and nature in a desert environment, using the qanats. The system is based on a strict social system with precise tasks and responsibilities, which have been maintained in use until the present, but has now become vulnerable to irreversible change.
Encyclopedia Record: Bam, Iran
Bam is a city in the Central District of Bam County, Kerman province, Iran, serving as capital of both the county and the district. The modern city surrounds the ancient citadel which has a history dating back to around 2,000 years ago. The citadel is a popular tourist attraction and a world heritage site. Before the 2003 earthquake, the official population count of the city was roughly 43,000.Additional Site Details
Area: Not available
Number of Components: 1
(iii) — Unique or exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition
(iv) — Outstanding example of a type of building or landscape
(v) — Outstanding example of traditional human settlement
Coordinates: 29.11683 , 58.3666666667
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© auoob farabi, CC BY-SA 3.0 Resized from original. (This derivative is under the same CC BY-SA license.)
World Heritage Research
Discover scientific research and academic studies that deepen our understanding of Bam and its Cultural Landscape from its history and significance to its conservation, management, and contemporary challenges.
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The Cultural Landscape of the Persian Qanat
The Persian qanat, an ancient underground water extraction system, has sustained arid landscapes and cultural development for over 3,000 years. This study highlights its role in shaping human settlement patterns, agrarian traditions, and social structures in regions like Bam, Yazd, and Khorasan. The qanat's design reflects advanced multidisciplinary knowledge, including hydrology, geotechnics, and community cooperation, while its maintenance demands ongoing adaptation to environmental changes. However, modern infrastructure is replacing traditional qanats, threatening their cultural significance. The research advocates for qanat tourism as a means to preserve this heritage while generating revenue, emphasizing its potential as both an economic and conservation strategy.
Vakil, N. (2022). The Cultural Landscape of the Persian Qanat. The Routledge Handbook of Cultural Landscape Heritage in the Asia-Pacific, 420–435. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003099994-31
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Mohammad T. Atayi, Shahram Zare’. “A new Achaemenid building-complex in Kerman, Evidence from Mahdiābād-e Oliā (Rigān-Kermān)”
Researchers have identified a previously unknown Achaemenid building complex at Mahdiābād-e Oliā, Rigān-Kermān, Kerman, Iran. The discovery stems from satellite imagery analysis conducted as part of the Bam Cultural Landscape Project, which examined an area devastated by flooding in 2017. The complex, spanning approximately 90 hectares and featuring a prominent quadrangular structure within a larger architectural ensemble measuring 120 x 60 meters, provides new evidence of Achaemenid-era occupation in the region. Surface ceramic findings further support the significance of this site, contributing to our understanding of ancient urban planning and architecture in the Kerman province.
Boucharlat, R. (2021). Mohammad T. Atayi, Shahram Zare’. “A new Achaemenid building-complex in Kerman, Evidence from Mahdiābād-e Oliā (Rigān-Kermān)”. Abstracta Iranica, Volume 42-43. https://doi.org/10.4000/abstractairanica.51706
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A 3D approach to reconstitution of the adobe citadel of Bam after earthquake: a complementary interpretation of architectural heritage knowledge, aerial photogrammetry, and heterogeneous data
An innovative 3D reconstitution method for Bam’s adobe Citadel has been developed to address the challenges posed by post-earthquake reconstruction. This approach integrates architectural heritage knowledge with aerial photogrammetry and diverse data sources—such as pre- and post-earthquake photos, drawings, videos, and texts—to accurately model complex adobe structures, including vaults, load-bearing walls, and spatial proportions. The Citadel is reconstructed using wireframe CAD-based 3D modeling, NURBS surface modeling, and visualized via VR/AR applications. Results are accessible through the RDF-based Bam3DCG platform (https://www.bam3DCG.com), offering a novel framework for heritage preservation and disaster recovery.
Matini, M. R., Andaroodi, E., & Ono, K. (2018). A 3D approach to reconstitution of the adobe citadel of Bam after earthquake: a complementary interpretation of architectural heritage knowledge, aerial photogrammetry, and heterogeneous data. International Journal of Architectural Heritage, 13(4), 600–618. https://doi.org/10.1080/15583058.2018.1450907
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A Comparative Analysis (SWOT) of Technical Intervention Plans Carried Out in Sistani House and Payambar Mosque of Bam Citadel
A comparative analysis of technical intervention plans for Bam Citadel's Sistani House and Payambar Mosque reveals distinct approaches to retrofitting adobe structures in high-seismic zones. While both plans aimed to balance heritage preservation with modern stabilization techniques, they differed in materials and methods used. The study highlights that a SWOT analysis can effectively evaluate such interventions, offering insights for future restoration projects on similar World Heritage Sites. This approach allows for the identification of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, providing a strategic framework for decision-making in conservation efforts.
Rouhi, J., Aveta, A., & Marino, B. G. (2017). A Comparative Analysis (SWOT) of Technical Intervention Plans Carried Out in Sistani House and Payambar Mosque of Bam Citadel. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 8(1), 431–440. https://doi.org/10.5901/mjss.2017.v8n1p431
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Investigations into the improvement of the weather protection of unburnt brick masonry, part 1
Research demonstrates that additives to loam render can significantly enhance the weather protection and seismic resistance of unburnt brick masonry, a critical material for preserving heritage structures like Bam's historic citadel. The study, conducted by the Technical University of Dresden in collaboration with Iranian cultural authorities and UNESCO, involved extensive fieldwork, including surveying, documentation, and rebuilding efforts after the 2003 earthquake that devastated Arg-e-Bam. The investigation focused on improving the shear strength and durability of unburnt brick masonry through innovative surface treatments and climatic chamber tests. Findings from this first part of the study highlight the potential of specific additives to mitigate weather-related degradation, offering a practical solution for conserving UNESCO World Heritage Sites with similar structural challenges.
Braun, J. (2017). Investigations into the improvement of the weather protection of unburnt brick masonry, part 1. Mauerwerk, 21(2), 114–128. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/dama.201700725
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Investigations into the improvement of the weather protection of unburnt brick masonry, part 2
Research demonstrates that surface treatments can significantly enhance the weather protection and earthquake resistance of unburnt brick masonry, a critical material for preserving historic structures like Bam's UNESCO-listed Arg-e-Bam citadel. The study, conducted by the Technical University of Dresden in collaboration with Iranian cultural authorities and UNESCO, evaluated various surface treatments to improve shear strength and durability. Climatic chamber tests revealed that specific additives and render techniques effectively mitigated weather-related degradation while maintaining structural integrity. These findings provide actionable strategies for conserving earthquake-damaged heritage sites, particularly those constructed with unburnt brick masonry.
Braun, J. (2017). Investigations into the improvement of the weather protection of unburnt brick masonry, part 2. Mauerwerk, 21(3), 188–203. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/dama.201700729
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Vernacular construction techniques and earth employ in Arg-e-Bam (Iran)
Arg-e-Bam, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Iran, stands as a rare global example of red clay architecture, rebuilt after its near-complete destruction by the 2003 Bam earthquake using ancient local techniques. This reconstruction process, supported by international cooperation since the site's 2004 recognition, highlights the resilience and sustainability of vernacular earthen construction methods. The study, presented at SOStierra 2017, underscores the significance of preserving and reviving traditional building practices for both cultural heritage conservation and environmental sustainability.
Cacciavillani, C., Rinaldi, S., & Severini, M. (2017). Vernacular construction techniques and earth employ in Arg-e-Bam (Iran). Vernacular and Earthen Architecture: Conservation and Sustainability, 59–64. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781315267739-10
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