DIGITAL ANALYSIS OF PETROGLYPHS AT THE KAHTOOYE SITE, IRAN

Khanipour, Morteza; Abriyev, Ruzikul; Mirghaderi, Mohammad Amin; Mahdavimanesh, Maryam; Usmonov, Farrux N.

doi:10.22034/jsbs.2026.581563.1147

DIGITAL ANALYSIS OF PETROGLYPHS AT THE KAHTOOYE SITE, IRAN

Document Type : Original Research Article

Authors

Morteza Khanipour ¹^{, 2}

Ruzikul Abriyev ²

Mohammad Amin Mirghaderi ³

Maryam Mahdavimanesh ¹

Farrux N. Usmonov ⁴

¹ Silk Road International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage, Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

² Samarkand State University, Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

³ University of Kurdistan.

⁴ Economic and Pedagogical University, Samarkand Campus, Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

10.22034/jsbs.2026.581563.1147

Abstract

Over the past few decades, interest in rock art studies in Iran has increased significantly, and numerous sites have been identified from different parts of the country. During archaeological surveys in Bavanat County, several sites with petroglyphs were identified. The mountainous landscape of this region and the presence of suitable rock surfaces have provided a favorable environment for the creation of petroglyphs in various historical and prehistoric periods. One of the most important of these sites is the Kahtooye Site in the south of Bavanat City, where numerous petroglyphs are visible on its rock surfaces. Given the importance of rock art in reconstructing aspects of the thought, symbolism, and lifestyle of past societies, the present study was conducted with the aim of examining the rock arts of this site. This study also emphasizes the importance of utilizing modern technologies and digital documentation of cultural heritage and analyzing artifacts more accurately. In this regard, DStretch Software was used to digitally process images; which enhanced the clarity of some faded and heavily weathered motifs and revealed more of their details. The results of the study show that the motifs of this site were executed through various techniques, including deep engraving, deep pecking, and shallow pecking. Also, the degree of weathering, patina development, and surface deposition on the rocks indicate that these motifs belong to different chronological phases and were probably created in several stages. The use of digital methods in this research showed that modern technologies can significantly contribute to the documentation, preservation, and analysis of rock art, and pave the way for a more detailed analysis of this valuable cultural heritage.

Keywords

Iran

Rock Art

Petroglyphs

Digital Documentation

DStretch

تجزیه‌وتحلیل دیجیتالی سنگ‌نگاره‌های محوطه کهتویه، ایران

چکیده: در دهه‌های اخیر، مطالعات هنر صخره‌ای در ایران با رشد چشمگیری همراه بوده و محوطه‌های متعددی از نقاط مختلف کشور شناسایی و معرفی شده‌اند. در جریان بررسی‌های باستان‌شناختی شهرستان بوانات نیز چندین محوطه دارای نگاره‌های صخره‌ای شناسایی شد. چشم‌انداز کوهستانی این منطقه و وجود سطوح سنگی مناسب، بستر مطلوبی را برای خلق نقوش صخره‌ای در دوره‌های مختلف فراهم کرده است. یکی از مهم‌ترین این محوطه‌ها، محوطه کهتویه در جنوب شهر بوانات است که شمار قابل توجهی از نگاره‌های صخره‌ای بر روی سطوح سنگی آن مشاهده می‌شود. با توجه به اهمیت هنر صخره‌ای در بازسازی جنبه‌هایی از اندیشه، نمادپردازی، باورها و شیوه زندگی جوامع گذشته، پژوهش حاضر با هدف مطالعه و تحلیل نگاره‌های این محوطه انجام شده است. افزون بر این، پژوهش بر نقش و اهمیت بهره‌گیری از فناوری‌های نوین در مستندسازی دیجیتال میراث فرهنگی و دستیابی به تحلیل‌های دقیق‌تر از آثار باستانی تأکید دارد. در این راستا، از نرم‌افزار DStretch برای پردازش دیجیتالی تصاویر استفاده شد؛ روشی که موجب افزایش وضوح برخی نقوش محو و به‌شدت فرسوده گردید و جزئیات بیشتری از آنها را آشکار ساخت. نتایج این پژوهش نشان می‌دهد که نقوش این محوطه با بهره‌گیری از شیوه‌های فنی گوناگونی از جمله کنده، کوبش عمیق و کوبش سطحی اجرا شده‌اند. همچنین میزان فرسایش، شکل‌گیری پتینه و رسوبات سطحی بر روی سنگ‌ها نشان می‌دهد که این نقوش به دوره‌های زمانی متفاوت تعلق دارند و احتمالاً در چند مرحله و طی بازه‌های زمانی مختلف ایجاد شده‌اند. کاربرد روش‌های دیجیتال در این پژوهش نشان داد که فناوری‌های نوین می‌توانند نقشی مؤثر و تعیین‌کننده در مستندسازی، حفاظت و تحلیل هنر صخره‌ای ایفا کنند و زمینه را برای شناختی دقیق‌تر و همه‌جانبه‌تر از این میراث فرهنگی ارزشمند فراهم سازند.

کلیدواژه: ایران، هنر صخره‌ای، سنگ‌نگاره‌ها، مستندسازی دیجیتالی، DStretch.

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