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Document Details :

Title: Stratégies d'exploitation de la pierre à Persepolis
Subtitle: Nouvelles données archéologiques
Author(s): GONDET, Sébastien
Journal: Iranica Antiqua
Volume: 50    Date: 2015   
Pages: 279-331
DOI: 10.2143/IA.50.0.3053523

Abstract :
The building of Persepolis required a large amount of stone during the whole Achaemenid period. In first it was necessary to supply the several construction sites of the Royal Precinct and those of numerous monumental buildings distributed in the plain as far as Naqsh-e Rustam. Persepolis was settled in a mountainous environment and it means that the stone resources were abundantly available in the vicinity. The several quarries remains show that the quarrymen chose thoroughly supply sources according to the various needs of the building sites. As an example, the use of a fine black stone to carve the bas-reliefs of Apadana is well attested. Furthermore, the results of recent surveys bring us to think that a part of the huge ashlars used on the Persepolis Terrace was provided by quarries near Naqsh-e Rustam where the stone is better in quality. Also these surveys bring to light an intensive quarrying activity all along the piedmonts surrounding Persepolis. The city must have sheltered numerous quarrymen and stone masons and integrated in its organisation scheme all the infrastructure necessary for the extraction and the transport of stones.

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