A Preliminary Study of Kushk-i Sa’idabad-i Tabriz: The Ilkhanid Midway Settlement in Northwest of Iran

Abstract

Periodic travel and movement between various summer and winter residences were central practices of the Ilkhanid court, as evidenced by numerous accounts in the chronicles from this era and throughout the reign of all Ilkhanids. During these seasonal journeys, the Ilkhanid ordu resided in various seasonal and midway settlements. While historical documents indicate that many of these residences can be located in regions under Lichened influence, only a few have been thoroughly studied to date. This article presents the preliminary results of an ongoing project aimed at tracing the itineraries of the Ilkhanids in Iran, focusing on the Tabriz-Ujan route and the potential location of Kushk-i Sa'idabad, situated along this route. The primary question this research seeks to answer is: Based on historical and archaeological evidence, where was Kushk-i Sa'idabad situated, and what were its characteristics as a midway settlement during the Ilkhanid period? To address this question, this research analysed historical documents and conducted archaeological surveys in areas thought to be the location of this kushk. The findings reveal two potential sites, one to the north and one to the south, of a village in the eastern suburbs of Tabriz, currently known as Sa'idabad. These findings suggest that the remains of this kushk were likely situated at one of these two identified sites.