Brief synthesis
At 1,900 m above sea level and far from any town, the Minaret of Jam
rises within a rugged valley along the Hari-rud River at its junction
with the river Jam around 215km-east of Herat. Rising to 65m from a 9m
diameter octagonal base, its four superimposed, tapering cylindrical
shafts are constructed from fired bricks. The Minaret is completely
covered with geometric decoration in relief enhanced with a Kufic
inscription in turquoise tiles. Built in 1194 by the great Ghurid Sultan
Ghiyas-od-din (1153-1203), its emplacement probably marks the site of
the ancient city of Firuzkuh, believed to have been the summer capital
of the Ghurid dynasty. Surrounding remains include a group of stones
with Hebrew inscriptions from the 11th to 12th centuries on the Kushkak
hill, and vestiges of castles and towers of the Ghurid settlements on
the banks of the Hari River as well as to the east of the Minaret.
The Minaret of Jam is one of the few well-preserved monuments
representing the exceptional artistic creativity and mastery of
structural engineering of the time. Its architecture and ornamentation
are outstanding from the point of view of art history, fusing together
elements from earlier developments in the region in an exceptional way
and exerting a strong influence on later architecture in the region.
This graceful soaring structure is an outstanding example of the
architecture and ornamentation of the Islamic period in Central Asia and
played a significant role in their further dissemination as far as
India as demonstrated by the Qutb Minar, Delhi, begun in 1202 and
completed in the early 14th century.
Criterion (ii): The innovative architecture and
decoration of the Minaret of Jam played a significant role in the
development of the arts and architecture of the Indian sub-continent and
beyond.
Criterion (iii): The Minaret of Jam and its
associated archaeological remains constitute exceptional testimony to
the power and quality of the Ghurid civilization that dominated the
region in the 12th and 13th centuries.
Criterion (iv): The Minaret of Jam is an outstanding
example of Islamic architecture and ornamentation in the region and
played a significant role for further dissemination.
Integrity
Since the building of the Minaret around eight hundred years ago, no
reconstruction or extensive restoration work has ever taken place in the
area. The archaeological vestiges were surveyed and recorded in 1957
when the remains were first discovered by archaeologists. Subsequent
surveys and studies have led only to simple precautionary stabilization
measures to the base of the Minaret. Thus, the attributes that express
the Outstanding Universal Value of the site, not least the Minaret
itself, other architectural forms and their setting in the landscape,
remain intact within the boundaries of the property and beyond.
Authenticity
The authenticity of the ensemble of the Minaret of Jam and the
vestiges that surround it has never been questioned. The Minaret has
always been recognised as a genuine architectural and decorative
masterpiece by the experts and an artistic chef-d'oeuvre by the
aesthetes. Its monumental Kufic inscriptions testify to the remote and
glorious origin of its builders as well as giving evidence to its early
dating (1194). No reconstruction or extensive restoration work has ever
taken place in the area.
Protection and management requirements
The legal and institutional framework for the effective management of
the Minaret and archaeological remains (70ha with a 600ha buffer zone),
is regulated by the Department of Historic Monuments on behalf of the
Ministry of Information and Culture of the Islamic Republic of
Afghanistan. The specific law under which the monument and its landscape
are protected is the Law on the Protection of Historical and Cultural Properties (Ministry of Justice, 21 May 2004) whichis in force and provides the basis for financial and technical resources.
The property will be removed from the List of World Heritage in
Danger when its desired state of conservation is achieved in accordance
with Decision 31 COM 7A.20. This must include the increased capacity of
the staff of the Afghan Ministry of Culture and Information who are in
charge of the preservation of the property; precise identification of
the World Heritage property and clearly marked boundaries and buffer
zones; assurance of the long-term stability and conservation of the
Minaret; assurance of site security, and a comprehensive management
system including the development and implementation of a long-term
conservation policy.
Proposals for the protection of the Minaret and its environs are
under scientific discussion. They would seek to monitor erosion of the
riverbanks adjacent to the Minaret, any further movement in the level of
inclination of the monument along with any degradation in the historic
fabric in general, and mitigate any adverse observations with
appropriate programs of stabilization and conservation measures where
necessary. Measures for the protection and monitoring of the wider
archaeological site are currently under review and an approved program
of research and public awareness raising is likely to be instigated in
the long term.
Long Description
The architecture and ornamentation of the minaret are
outstanding from the point of view of art history, fusing together
elements from earlier developments in the region in an exceptional way
and exerting a strong influence on later architecture in the region. It
is an outstanding example of Islamic architecture and ornamentation in
this region and played a significant role in their further
dissemination.
At 1,900 m above sea level and far from any town, the minaret rises
within a rugged valley in the heart of Ghur Province. It is a graceful,
soaring structure, dating back to the 12th century, believed to have
been built to commemorate a major victory of the sultans of the Ghurid
dynasty. Jam is believed to have been the summer residence of the Ghurid
emperors and probably marks the site of the ancient city of Firuzkuh,
the capital of the Ghurid dynasty. An inscription gives the date of
construction as 1194.
The minaret is one of the few well-preserved monuments representing
the exceptional artistic creativity and mastery of structural
engineering of the time. It was built on the south bank of the Hari
River at the intersection of two canyon-like river valleys. Rising to
65 m from a 9 m diameter octagonal base, its four tapering cylindrical
shafts are constructed of fired brick bonded with lime mortar. The
exterior of the minaret is completely covered with geometric decoration
in relief laid over the plain structural bricks. The first cylinder is
the most decorated: it is divided into eight vertical segments, matching
those of the base. Each vertical zone has a narrow band of inscriptions
running in an unbroken line around each panel.
A group of stones with Hebrew inscriptions on the Kushkak hill
between the minaret and the village of Jam, believed to date from the
11th to 12th centuries, probably came from a nearby Jewish cemetery. The
remains of castles and towers of the Ghurid settlement are to be found
on the opposite bank of the Hari River, north of the minaret and high on
the cliff. There are also the remains of fortifications visible to the
east of the minaret, giving the impression that the minaret was
surrounded not by a settlement but by a military camp.
Since the minaret was built no major reconstruction or restoration
work has taken place, apart from consolidation around its base. The
archaeological remains have been surveyed and recorded in the 20th
century but without any attempt at restoration or reconstruction, while
the only excavation has been clandestine and uncontrolled.
Source: UNESCO/CLT/WHC
Historical Description
The Minaret of Jam probably marks the site of the ancient city
of Firuzkuh, the capital of the Ghurid dynasty that ruled Afghanistan
and parts of northern India, from Kashgar to the Persian Gulf, in the
12th and 13th centuries. An inscription gives the date of construction
as 1194, and another gives the name of the powerful reigning Ghurid
emperor, Sultan Ghiyas ud-Din (1157-1202). It is likely that the Minaret
was constructed to commemorate his victory at Delhi in 1192 over the
Ghaznavid Empire, hence the name sometimes given to it, the Victory
Tower.
The site of Jam is believed to have been the summer residence of the
Ghurid Emperors. There are indications that the mosque to which the
minaret was attached was of modest size, and disproportionate to the
dimensions of the minaret, contrary to the basic principles of Islamic
architecture.
After the death of Ghiyas ud-Din his brother Muiz ud-Din succeeded
him. The Ghurid Empire came under intense pressure from its neighbours,
the Kharizm, from south of the Aral Sea, and gradually yielded up its
territories. Only at the mountainous retreat of Bamiyan did the dynasty
survive, until its last ruler was captured and put to death in 1215. The
town of Firuzkuh was destroyed by the Mongol Ogodaï in 1222.
Source: Advisory Body Evaluation
