Photographs, Taq-i-Bustan (1965)

Preface

The Tokyo University Iraq–Iran Archaeological Expedition conducted detailed photographic surveys at the Taq-i-Bustan monument in western Iran in 1965 and 1976 as part of the research project “Ancient Iranian Civilization as the Source of Ancient Civilization in East Asia and Japan.” Located along the Silk Road, the Taq-i-Bustan site complex is a legacy of the Sassanian Persian Empire, featuring rock reliefs imperial coronation ceremony. The similarities between its relief expressions and the culture of Japan’s Kofun to Nara periods have long been the subject of speculation. However, due to the lack of comprehensive information about the entire site complex, comparative studies have not been fully developed. Therefore, the publication of the four volumes of “Taq-i-Bustan” (1969-1984) by the University of Tokyo team, which provided a detailed account of this important monument, made a significant contribution to archaeology and art history worldwide. To further advance international research on the site, we produced a database of the digital photographs of the relief carvings.

In this database, we release photographs included in the 1965 season’s report “Taq-i-Bustan,” Volumes 1 (1969) and 2 (1972). The plates published in these reports consist of four color plates, each with dimensions of 6 × 6, and 219 black-and-white negatives with 4 × 5 dimensions. The total number of high-quality photographs of Taq-i-Bustan taken in 1965 is nearly 1,500. However, the complete list of these photographs has not yet been published. This study yielded an accurate list along with digitizing the photos.

These photographs are invaluable records of Taq-i-Bustan as it appeared more than half a century ago, before the onset of weathering due to industrial modernization, and cultural heritage that has often been exposed to political instability. No institutions other than the University Museum at the University of Tokyo have systematically documented the Taq-i-Bustan monument. Consequently, there has been a steady stream of requests for access the photographs on this site. This database will be useful for researchers and contribute to the advancement of Silk Road research across various fields.

This database project was supported by the 2024 Fiscal Year Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (Yoshihiro Nishiaki; Grant Number 24HP8005).

Yoshihiro Nishiaki

The University Museum, the University of Tokyo

June 2025