Setting
Bam lies in a hot, low-lying oasis with extensive date palm groves fed by qanats.
Why this place matters for craft
The city is central to discussions of earthen heritage conservation after the 2003 earthquake, and restoration work there is widely written about. Craft retail is local: palm-fibre work, textiles and dates.
Quarters, bazaars and workshops
| Area | What is there |
|---|---|
| Arg-e Bam | Citadel site under restoration; access and open areas vary with works. |
What to look for on an object
- Palm-fibre basketry — Coiled or plaited leaf strips with visible stitching; plastic imitations are glossy and uniform.
These notes are for learning to look, not for authentication. No description here certifies an object, its age or its origin.
Practical notes
- Restoration means parts of the citadel may be closed; check current access.
- Summer heat is severe.
- Workshop addresses, bazaar hours and market days change; confirm locally before travelling.
Season: Late autumn to early spring.
Used in these crafts
A hand-embroidered wool textile from Kerman in which coloured silk or wool threads are worked in dense chain and satin stitching over a woollen ground, typically in a limited palette against a natural or dyed field.
The carving and moulding of gypsum plaster into architectural ornament, including mihrabs, inscriptions, muqarnas and wall panels.
A non-woven wool textile made by matting and pressing raw wool fibres with moisture, heat and friction rather than by weaving, traditionally produced across Iran for floor coverings, cloaks and protective mats.