Garjgan Rock-Cut Dwellings: Life Within the Earth and a Legacy of Smart Local Architecture in South Khorasan

The ancient rock-cut dwellings of Garjgan in South Khorasan are a valuable example of human adaptation to nature and the intelligent use of land for habitation. This collection of rock-cut spaces, shaped by the natural properties of the soil, showcases a distinctive form of vernacular architecture and tells part of the social and livelihood history of the local people.

Arya's heritage: The historical texture of the Garjagan handlooms has been formed in the area between the natural features and the agricultural lands of the village. This texture is limited from the west and south to the river, Garjagan mountain and agricultural lands, from the north to the shrine and from the east to the new texture of the village, and at a further distance, it neighbors Dehmir village.

The location of this complex and the way its spaces are established show that the natural features of the land, especially the lowlands and heights and the difference in soil layers, have played an important role in the formation and expansion of this settlement.

hand-made architecture; Taking advantage of the natural capacities of the earth

Garjagan handrails are placed in the group of residential horizontal handrails; The spaces created by digging in the natural bed of the earth and their development has been done mainly horizontally.

Examining the structure of this complex shows that the empty spaces are formed at different height levels and according to the natural features of the land. In some examples, the parts adjacent to the main space have been used as a yard or open space, and a number of spaces also have ventilation ducts and vents to the outside.

One of the key features of this collection is the difference in shape, dimensions and the way the spaces are arranged. The handstands do not follow the same geometric pattern, and there is no direct form and function relationship between many units. However, the location of the spaces in the soil bed and the presence of open areas in front of the entrance of some of them are common features of this complex.

In some parts of the fabric, the living spaces are compactly placed next to each other, and the passages are formed according to the natural features of the land without having a specific geometrical order. Some of these passages are narrow and have stone walls, and others are wider. A significant part of the passages of the primary nucleus of the tissue are also open and connected to each other.

from Marka neighborhood to Garjagan; Signs of the transformation of a settlement

Garjagan handloom fabric consists of two parts named "Marka" or "Mubarakabad" and "Garjagan". Based on the investigations conducted on the shape, state of wear and tear of the spaces, the handstands of the eastern part, especially the Marka range, are among the oldest examples of this collection.

On the other hand, part of the western and northwestern hills were formed in later periods. These differences, along with the condition of the soil layers and the height position of the spaces, provide the possibility of investigating the expansion process of the settlement.

Some evidence suggests that the first hand spaces were created in parts of the earth where it was easier to dig; But with the gradual understanding of the characteristics of the soil bed, the way of choosing the place to create new spaces has also changed.

In the meantime, the difference between soil layers and their strength is particularly important. In some parts of the complex, the formation bed of the hand-kands consists of two sedimentary layers with different characteristics; The upper layer is made of dense and harder calcareous soil and the lower layer is made of sandy soil with less density. Of course, this pattern is not the same in all samples and some spaces are created only in loamy soil layers.

More sand layers are observed at lower depths and in the hills that are located at a lower altitude level. In some samples located at a higher altitude, a relatively narrow layer of sedimentary sand can be seen between layers of green loamy soil.

These geological differences, along with the physical characteristics of the spaces, have been effective factors in choosing the excavation site and forming different parts of the Garjagan handloom texture.

three periods of residence; From used loans to new homes

Examining the physical developments of Garjagan village shows three main periods of construction and formation of residential spaces.

In the first period, the residents created spaces for living and keeping livestock by digging the loess bed of the ground. These spaces, which are known as "Lon" in the region, have formed the initial core of Garjagan's Dastkand settlement.

In the second period, with the increase in the need for living space and the expansion of the settlement, the construction of clay and mud houses became popular next to the mounds. Gradually, with the decrease in the residential use of the empty spaces, some of them were turned into places for keeping livestock.

In the third period, along with the change of living conditions and greater access to new materials, the construction expanded in an area adjacent to the old structure, especially in the northern part of the village. At this stage, with the help of the Housing Foundation, new houses and a new context were formed, which gradually gained a greater place in the daily life of the residents.

The earthquake of 1371 was one of the effective factors in the destruction of parts of the residential structure of the village and the abandonment of parts of the Garjagan Handicraft Complex.

The connection of handmade architecture with historical houses

Another remarkable feature of Garjagan's texture is the formation of some architectural spaces in the vicinity of handrails. In some parts of the complex, mud and clay houses have been built next to or in front of empty spaces; So that the spatial relationship between these two types of construction can be seen.

The historical houses attributed to Morteza Qoli Khan and Mohammad Hossein Khan Nakhai are among the examples presented in this context, which according to the existing descriptions, have decorations such as plasterwork and decorative fireplaces.

In some cases, after the construction of newer architectural spaces, the adjacent fields were used to keep livestock, and the sections built in front of them provided living space for the residents.

This neighborhood presents a picture of the gradual transformation of the settlement pattern in the village; A model in which the spaces excavated in the heart of the earth and the houses built with local materials have been placed next to each other in different periods.

green soil; Linking local materials with the visual identity of the village

Clay, straw and local soil are the main materials in the traditional constructions of Garjagan. The color of the soil used in the buildings, which is similar to gray with a green undertone and known in the region as "Sabzegol", has helped to form a distinctive visual identity of this texture.

In some architectural spaces located in the vicinity of handrails, the difference in the color of the linings is also significant. According to the existing descriptions, the entrance part of some of these buildings was coated with mud mortar containing iron oxide and had a red color; While they used blue-green mortar for coating the inner parts.

The use of green soil in the native architecture of the region is not limited to the past. Some residents still use this soil to cover their roofs and protect them from rain and snow; A subject that shows the continuity of part of the traditional knowledge of construction.

From residential use to livestock keeping; Changing the function of spaces

Some parts of Garjagan's ruins have been changed over time. Some of these spaces have been renovated and are now used to keep livestock, including sheep and cattle.

Also, according to the narration of some residents, in the past, traditional cloth weaving or "toubafi" workshops were operating in some of these spaces. Tobafi is one of the traditional arts and activities of the region and continues in parts of South Khorasan. However, in the conducted investigations, no direct evidence of the establishment of these workshops inside the empty spaces has been identified.

This difference between local narratives and physical evidence highlights the necessity of more detailed documentation of the collection and the collection of historical and oral information from residents and local informants.

Garjagan's hands; A capacity to understand native architecture

Garjagan handlooms can be seen as a significant example of the compatibility of native architecture with the geological and climatic features of the region; A collection in which the selection of the excavation site, the difference in elevation levels, the use of soil layers and the creation of open spaces in front of the entrances, reflect part of the logic of the formation of the settlement.

This collection also provides the possibility of studying the evolution of ways of life in the village; From the first hand-built spaces for living and keeping livestock to the construction of clay and mud houses and the expansion of the new fabric in the vicinity of the old core.

Due to the wear and tear of some of the spaces, the change of use of some of them and the destruction caused by the earthquake, physical documentation, recording of oral narratives, more accurate identification of the stages of formation of the complex and examination of its protection capacities can be effective in better understanding this architectural heritage and transferring its values to future generations.

Garjagan Handlooms, beyond a set of spaces dug in the heart of the soil, are a reflection of local knowledge, the experience of living in the natural environment and the transformation process of living in one of the villages of South Khorasan. A heritage whose recognition and protection provides an opportunity to reread a part of the history of architecture and culture of life in this region.