Recognizing the Roads and Historical Monuments Between Dizful and Khurramābād in the Qajar Era (Based on the Achievements of Arnold Wilson’s Mission in 1911)

Abstract
Tracing historical routes is a crucial key to understanding the network of historical and cultural assets in any region, sometimes leading to the discovery of new sites. Nevertheless, the communication paths between Khūzistān and Luristān have remained largely unknown, and serious research on them has been lacking. In addition to the travels of Nasir-Al-Dīn Shāh’s entourage to Khūzistān, the significance of archaeological excavations and the commencement of oil exploration heightened European interest and activities in the southwestern region of Iran in the mid-20th century. Despite numerous journeys by domestic and foreign agents to Luristān and Khūzistān, Arnold Wilson’s journey and accomplishments in 1911 AD hold a distinctive position. Nevertheless, his contributions have not illuminated the relatively obscure historical pathway connecting Khurramābād to Dizfūl. This research aims to employ a historical interpretive approach, utilizing existing documents and historical maps found in travelogues, books, and military reports. Some of these documents will be published for the first time in this study. The research endeavors to analyze the reports and maps of Arnold Wilson’s 1911 AD mission in Luristān, shedding light on the routes and historical sites between Dizfūl and Khurramābād. The study seeks to accurately identify and introduce these sites and clarify the ambiguities surrounding this historical route. The investigation into Arnold Wilson’s 1911 expedition in Luristān, through the juxtaposition of his specific route illustrations and various historical pathways, notably the Dizfūl-Khurramābād route with an emphasis on the Chul road, has facilitated the unearthing of several significant historical sites. These sites encompass aqueduct structures in Du Hauzān, irrigation networks in Salih Ābād, historical areas in Sar-i-pilleh, Karaharr, Qāfilajāh, and Shahr-i-Gaud, tombs in Gurr-i-Hushkih and Ahmad Kūchīkih, Zāl and Tirādā historical bridges, the historical fortress of Tang-i-Qalā, and unique toponyms along these routes, such as Walmīyān, Baq-i-Khān, Āsīābād Mountain, and more. Many of these sites were introduced by Wilson for the first time and can serve as the foundation for further historical and archaeological field studies.
Keywords: Arnold Wilson, Khurramābād, Dizfūl, Luristān, Historical Roads.
 
Introduction
Investigating historical routes is essential for comprehending the network of historical monuments across different regions and can occasionally lead to the discovery of new locations. However, the communication pathways between Khūzistān and Luristān have not been thoroughly examined, and there is a notable lack of substantial research in this area. This gap has become increasingly significant to foreign researchers since the latter part of Nāsir Al-Dīn Shāh’s reign. The predominantly narrative and textual travelogues produced by Iranian envoys, which were supplemented by relatively imprecise maps, offer a significantly lesser contribution to the understanding of the communication routes in this region. This is in contrast to the reports generated by European envoys, who traversed these routes equipped with appropriate tools and subsequently represented their findings on more precise geographical maps. Sir Arnold Wilson holds a distinguished position among Europeans, particularly due to the reports and maps produced during his 1911 mission concerning the railway construction in Luristān. The comprehensive location data presented in his military reports, when integrated with a recently acquired map of southwestern Iran, has illuminated numerous ambiguities regarding the communication pathways in Khūzistān and Luristān. This analysis reveals both familiar and lesser-known sites, which are referenced solely by name in historical travelogues, thereby offering a clearer understanding of the geographical and cultural contexts of these areas during the Qajar period.
This study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the roads and historical monuments connecting Dizfūl to Khurramābād by examining the reports and maps produced during Sir Arnold Wilson’s 1911 expedition in Luristān. The research seeks to elucidate various uncertainties associated with this historical route. Key inquiries include: What locations and areas did Arnold Wilson traverse from Dizfūl to Khurramābād in 1911? Additionally, what significance did the documented outcomes of his journey hold in enhancing the understanding of the historical sites and pathways in these regions? This study employs historical interpretive method, utilizing a data collection strategy that encompasses historical documents such as travelogues, books, military reports, and maps. These materials will be published for the first time in this research, having been extracted from the archives of the Qatar National Library. The research will begin with an examination of Wilson’s preliminary studies, which includes an analysis of the works and maps produced by his predecessors in the previous century. Following this, the accomplishments of his 1911 mission in Luristān will be presented. By analyzing these documents and correlating the information they contain, the investigation will focus on the route taken and the locations where he stopped, as well as the significant historical complexities referenced in his sketch map.
Identified Traces 
Upon receiving the notification regarding the Luristān mission, Wilson not only arranged the necessary travel logistics but also meticulously examined the reports and travel accounts authored by Rawlinson, DeBode, Mark Bell, Sawyer, Lord Curzon, DeMorgan, Durand, Rabino, Lorimer, Baird, and the Gazetteer of Persia. In the early days of March 1911, he left Khurramshahr to begin the construction of the Luristān railway. His journey took him through Khūzistān, where he made a brief stop in Dizfūl. He departed from Dizfūl on April 25, 1911, and after an adventurous 27-day trek, he arrived in Khurramābād on May 23. Although this journey was long and demanding, it resulted in valuable contributions, including two reports and a significant map that outlined the railway’s proposed route and highlighted numerous locations in the region that had not been previously recorded. His passion for uncovering areas that had not been explored by other Europeans led him to prioritize the documentation of roads, historical monuments, and lesser-known natural sites in the region. Analyzing the data contained within the documents from Arnold Wilson’s 1911 expedition reveals valuable insights regarding the historical sites and routes connecting Dizfūl and Khurramābād. The acquisition of information about historical monuments has consistently been a significant accomplishment of foreign agents operating in Iran. Although Wilson’s journey did not adhere to a perfectly linear trajectory, the Chul path can be identified as his primary route. In the military report concerning Luristān, the author designated this thoroughfare as Route 4, which comprised ten designated stopping points. These included Qal’eh Husainīyeh, Qal’eh Rizā (Razih), Jauzār, Ab-i-Fānī (Tang-i-Fānī), Walmīyān, Bādāmak, Ab-i-Sard, Chimashk, Dādābād, and Shāh-in-shāh. The report also provides a detailed account of the significant historical monuments located between these halting sites.
Conclusion 
In his account of the journey from Dizfūl to Khurramābād, Wilson highlighted various historical water structures, bridges, cities, tombs, and castles, many of which he documented for the first time. He based his observations on the research of earlier scholars and the insights of local inhabitants. In the Luristān military report, he delineated seven primary routes connecting Dizfūl to Khurramābād, while also noting several secondary paths. Additionally, he made a significant contribution by associating these routes with the tribes of Luristān, thereby enhancing the understanding of connections between Luristān and Khūzistān. His reports and accompanying sketch maps include a selection of place names, such as mountains, valleys, and straits, which reflect the geographical features of the area.
Beyond addressing various ambiguities related to the routes and historical sites within the regions of Khūzistān and Luristān, this study has successfully introduced vital primary sources, including Wilson’s sketch map, to fellow researchers. This endeavor significantly enriches the historical and geographical comprehension of Luristān. However, it is essential to recognize that this investigation represents only the beginning of a more extensive research trajectory, which could be expanded through archaeological explorations of critical sites, other historical routes, and the cultural implications of place names.