LEARNING FROM THE PAST AND PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE: CONDITIONS AND PROPOSALS FOR STONE CONSERVATION OF THE MAUSOLEUM OF CYRUS THE GREAT IN THE WORLD HERITAGE SITE OF PASARGADAE

摘要

The Mausoleum of Cyrus the Great located in the World Heritage site of Pasargadae, Pars Province, Iran, was constructed of limestone in the 6th century BC and represents the only intact monument of the Achaemenid period within the site. With designation as part of the World Heritage property of Pasargadae, monitoring of the conditions of the mausoleum and conservation interventions demands the highest level of attention and conservation. This article examines the stae of preservation of the Mausoleum of Cyrus the Great focusing on the stone conservation conditions. It assesses the risks and damaging factors and reviews the history of conservation and restoration interventions of the mausoleum. The authors propose enhanced maintenance and conservation actions, based on the specificities of the monument and its weathering conditions. The maintenance plan proposes a cyclic scheme for routine inspections of the monument, documentation and implementation of required conservation interventions to ensure sustainable preservation of the monument for the future.