Saed News: Shovaz village is considered one of the historical attractions of Yazd province, with a history of several thousand years that amazes tourists and archaeologists.
According to the analytical news base Saed News, quoting Hamshahri:
During the holidays, one of the cities that welcomes many travelers is Yazd. However, you should know that within the heart of the historic city of Yazd, there are villages that are very pristine and beautiful, making them suitable options for tourism during the holiday season for travelers. Among them is Shovaz village, located in the southeast of Yazd province, gradually distancing itself from the Shirkooh Mountains. This village is surrounded by a calm and untouched natural landscape; behind the village is a mountain, and in front of it lies a vast plain continuing beyond. To become better acquainted with Shovaz village, one of the beautiful and ancient attractions of Yazd province, join us in this section.
History and Antiquity of Shovaz Village
Shovaz is one of the ancient villages dating back to very old times. The age and history of this village can be inferred through its ancient cemeteries, such as Shovaz cemetery and Old Shovaz cemetery, as well as its large and sturdy fortress. These clearly demonstrate the historical depth and antiquity of the area. Additionally, there are numerous rock carvings which show many similarities to those in the Arnan mountain region, dating back 7,000 to 12,000 years ago. However, archaeological research has not yet been able to study these findings in detail.
Geographical Location of Shovaz Village
The geographical location and topographical conditions of Shovaz village bear significant resemblance to the village of Turan behind Neir. This is a strong village that has occupied a large area of the Taqestan plateau and is etched in people’s minds with mythical qualities. This feature has enabled the village to withstand threats of attacks and raids from enemies and invaders, often originating from the plateau and the Fars region. This capability has contributed to the village’s fame and allowed it to maintain distance from large centers and cities.
Shovaz Fortress with Unique Size and Features
The Shovaz fortress, besides its strategic location in the village, is a tall fortress situated in front of the village, doubling the defensive strength of the village.
One of the most important mountain fortresses in Yazd province, Shovaz fortress is structurally very tall, strong, and impressive. It is built on a hard rock cliff about 100 meters high, made of hard sedimentary stones, and is protected from all sides by cliffs and steep scree slopes. This fortress was once used as a human settlement, with an estimated area of about 5,000 square meters.
The main walls of the fortress are made of stone on the outside and adobe bricks inside. The walls and roofs of the rooms are mostly made of adobe bricks, with some arches built using bricks. The entrance gate is brick-built. On the east side, there is a high brick stairway used for water drainage.
The stones used in the fortress are sedimentary, and the rounded heel of the fortress is also made of stone. After restoration by the Cultural Heritage Organization, the main door was relocated inside the fortress, and a wooden door was installed in its place. One of the fortress’s room ceilings is covered with wooden beams made from the wood of the senjed tree.
The fortress has towers built for surveillance and defense, with some parts constructed using ironstone and adobe bricks. An interesting feature is that after building the towers with adobe bricks, their outer facade was clad with stone to increase durability and resistance to attacks.
Materials used in construction include stone, adobe bricks, and clay. The mortar is made of clay, sometimes reinforced with chopped straw and gravel. The walls and partitions are adobe bricks, distinguishable in three structural types and shapes.
Which Era Does the Stone Fortress of Shovaz Belong To?
Shovaz stone fortress borrows its tower construction style from Sassanid culture and belongs to that architectural period. One notable feature is the presence of arches dating back to pre-Islamic times, including circular Parthian, Sassanid, and post-Islamic pointed arches. Examples of these are also found in the treasure house of the Azargashb fire temple.
Indeed, the most important mountain fortress in Yazd’s territory is Shovaz fortress. It is strong, large, and has an optimistic view. Also, on one of the inner fortress walls, a sixth-century inscription was discovered that has not been mentioned in any sources so far.
This inscription, written crudely, is not located in a public place and is artistically primitive and awkwardly carved.
According to research on Islamic inscriptions in the province, no sixth-century inscription has yet been found in buildings like fortresses, mosques, schools, or other places that normally have inscriptions. All sixth-century inscriptions studied so far belong to tombstones or mihrab stones found in Shovaz cemetery. But the inscription discovered inside the fortress is unique and important for dating the fortress.
It appears that Sassanid towers were stone-clad to strengthen and increase defensive power. Shovaz fortress is also built in the Sassanid architectural style. Additionally, several pieces of gray pottery found inside the fortress, two of which are decorated, are probably from the historical gray pottery period. The presence of several shops carved into the rock inside the fortress is a testament to the antiquity and ancient nature of Shovaz city.
Shovaz Cemetery
Shovaz cemetery in Yazd soil is one of the unique cemeteries. In this cemetery, above and below the graves, two large rough and wide stone slabs are placed in the ground, rising about half a meter above it, with no inscriptions on them. The general appearance of the cemetery, the arrangement, color, and darkness of the stones indicate the cemetery’s antiquity.
This part of the cemetery, older than the graves with historical tombstones from the 6th to 8th centuries AH, contains tombstones with irregular Naskh script and natural black coloring. Additionally, several marble tombstones from the 10th and 11th centuries AH have been found.
