Thread by @On_Persia

Sasanian stucco from eastern #Iran

گچبری ساسانی در خراسان

In recent years, at least 4 sites (Bandian, Mele Hairam now outside Iran's borders, Bazeh Hur, Shilgan) have been excavated which give us a much better idea of this art form in eastern Iran, including Khorasan

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1) Mele Hairam: a number of important late Parthian-Sasanian finds. Likely a fire temple

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This piece is amazing

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I'm still waiting on more publications from this site

but see publications by Barbara Kaim, e.g., Victorious fire at Mele Hairam, in: Historical and Cultural sites of Turkmenistan

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2) Bandian: I've talked about this major site before and here will only provide a few examples of stuccos

There are also MP inscriptions at this site which have been published

The main paper to refer to for comparisons of all 4 sites is "Sasanian Stuccos of Northeastern Iran"

by Labbaf-Khaniki, 2021.

More from Bandian

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Other examples

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3-4) Bazeh Hur, Shilgan (and their comparison to the other sites)

First these pieces @ museum of Khorasan. I'm not sure what site they're from

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#Sasanian Bazeh Hur

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Comparison between the 4 sites

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Bazeh Hur and Shilgan

A large number of stucco and other pieces from recent finds in Iran are unfortunately unpublished

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Further comparisons between the 4 sites

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Other examples

These from Fire Temple in Qale-ye Dokhtar, Khorasan

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A few more comparisons.

Overall, these 4 sites are v important in history of Sasanian art, including stucco.

I'm sure more and more ancient sites will be found all around Iran, as has been the case in the past few decades.