Arg-e-Bam (Bam Citadel) and Its History

Abstract

Arg-e-Bam ͑Bam Citadel͒ was a large urban complex of ancient earthen architecture in an arid environment. This complex was renowned for its majestic size and its peculiar impression on the visitors at first sight. The Arg-e-Bam was built on approximately 20 hectares of land over a period of 1,800 years; it was abandoned 180 years ago. The Arg was a gallery of different ancient architectural elements in its original urban concept of a city in the pre-medieval era. The whole area was constructed entirely of earthen material and was heavily damaged by the 2003 Bam earthquake. The level of destruction is about 70% on major parts of this huge monument.

Bam 2003 earthquake disaster: On the earthquake risk perception, resilience and earthquake culture – Cultural beliefs and cultural landscape of Qanats, gardens of Khorma trees and Argh-e Bam

“…During the long and costly restoration of Arg-e Bam before 2003 earthquake, earthquake risk was not even considered. In addition, the quality of materials and the techniques used for restoration added more to seismic vulnerability of Arg-e Bam [37][38][39]. It needs to be highlighted that a contribution to a low earthquake perception by local communities, specialists, scientists and various organizations and institutions is given by both epistemic and aleatory uncertainties [87].…”

“…Many of these were in an advanced erosion and degradation process, long before the earthquake, as the rehabilitation and restoration process was mainly focused on Governor's quarter and main entrance gate. The restoration before the earthquake was mainly connected with making use of high touristic potentials of Bam citadel [38]. and 50,000 people suffered injuries.…”

“…For approximately five decades before 2003 earthquake, Arg-e Bam was just a historical place, an archaeological site and a museum [39]. Before the earthquake destruction, Arg-e Bam covered an area of almost 20 hectares land and was an essential touristic attraction for Bam area [36,38]. It was one of the "world's largest earthen complex", entirely composed of unfired earthen building material [36,39].…”

“…Such cultural heritage sites may later be included as a part of the World Heritage List [28]. Around the world and during the time, the earthquake disasters took their tolls on the cultural heritage sites in Iran [36][37][38][39] Peru [40] and Nepal [41], just to name few places. Cultural heritage sites are ingrained in the social-cultural fabric of places and their damage and destruction has a negative impact on the livelihoods of local communities, on their bonds with the place, on their memories and continuity, identities and resilience [24,28,42].…”

“…Other structures which were not renovated, survived the earthquake' shock and suffered only minor damages, for instance some cracks or a small amount of the building materials was lost. The restoration process of Arg-e Bam started from 1953, but it was deployed with intensity within the last two decades and half or more precisely, in the last 15 years before the earthquake[37][38][39]. Another interesting remark was the serious contribution of termites to a severe damage and failure of the structures.…”