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Ganji S, Parsi F. (2026). The Howz-e Khan Waystation: An Investigation of a Forgotten Mid-Route Complex based on Textual Sources and Archaeological Evidence. Athar. 46(111), 135-160. doi:10.61882/Athar.2024.4069.1
URL: http://athar.richt.ir/article-2-2024-en.html

Abstract
Intermediary waystations and their related structures—such as caravanserais, cisterns, mills, towers, and forts—have long been vital elements in the infrastructure and security of Iran’s historical roads. One such site is Ḥowz-e Khān, a waystation along the historical route from Nāyband to Rāvar (part of the Khorasan–Kerman route), now located away from modern paved roads. Positioned in a barren desert landscape, far from any settlement, this complex contributed to the prosperity and safety of the route. In 2024–2025, the authors conducted detailed field and archival research on this historical road and its associated structures, including the Ḥowz-e Khān complex. Using old maps, travel accounts, field observations, and archaeological evidence, they investigated the features and significance of the site within the historical road system. Ḥowz-e Khān consists of eight structures: a caravanserai, kiln, latrine, tower, water cistern, cruciform room, separate room, and a well—built during different periods. The site functioned as a stopover for travelers at least since the Safavid era, primarily due to its water infrastructure, with additional buildings constructed during the Qajar period as traffic along the route increased. This study shows that Ḥowz-e Khān was not a permanent settlement but a service point for travelers. Thanks to its water systems and strategic location, it played a key role in sustaining the historical road network across the Lut Desert. The case of Ḥowz-e Khān offers deeper understanding of the role of intermediary nodes in Iran’s historical communication systems.
Keywords: Howz-e Kahn, Caravanserai, Historical route, Waystation, Lut Desert.

Introduction
Mid-route waystations and their associated structures—caravanserais, cisterns, kilns, towers, and forts—have long been essential components of Iran’s historical transportation systems. These facilities not only enabled the movement of people and goods but also ensured security and facilitated cultural and economic exchange. The historical route from Khorasan to Kerman, once a vital artery connecting northeastern and southeastern Iran, included numerous such waystations. One of these is the Howz-e Khan complex, a mid-route station located between Nayband and Ravar, which has been largely forgotten due to its remoteness from modern paved roads and current transportation routes.
The present study aims to investigate a section of the historical Khorasan–Kerman route by identifying, documenting, and dating the architectural features of the Howz-e Khan complex. This research builds upon limited references in historical sources and maps, as well as sporadic mentions in early travelogues. Despite its significance in connecting major economic and religious centers, this route has been overlooked in modern academic literature. By focusing on the Howz-e Khan complex, this study contributes to the broader understanding of how infrastructure supported the functionality and continuity of historical road networks in the Iranian plateau, especially in arid and marginal environments.
Methodologically, the research employs a combination of field survey and archival/library study. The team conducted on-site documentation during 2024 and 2025 (1403–1404 SH), surveying all eight structures within the complex. These include a caravanserai, a kiln, a latrine, a tower, a cistern (Howz), a cruciform room, a solitary room, and a well. Tools such as Excel were used for categorizing and analyzing data, AutoCAD was employed to produce accurate architectural plans, and GIS facilitated spatial analysis and topographic contextualization. Historical texts and maps were consulted to supplement the physical data and assist in dating the structures.
Geographically, Howz-e Khan is located in the Deihuk district of Tabas County, South Khorasan Province, approximately 28 kilometers from the modern Nayband–Ravar road. The site lies on the north western edge of the Lut Desert, in a harsh and arid landscape characterized by extreme temperatures, minimal vegetation, and the absence of permanent water sources. These environmental conditions necessitated the construction of water storage and support structures, making Howz-e Khan a crucial waystation in the region. Its spatial isolation today belies its former importance as a key node in the historical road system between Khorasan and Kerman.

Discussion
Site Description, Field Evidence, and Historical Significance of Howz-e Khan
The Howz-e Khan complex comprises eight distinct structures, each with specific architectural and functional characteristics that reflect the evolution of mid-route infrastructure in the Iranian plateau. The partially constructed caravanserai, featuring a camel stall (shotor-khaneh), loading platforms, rooms, and two Iwanches (vaulted alcoves), shows signs of abandonment before completion. Built with stone foundations and mud-lime mortar, its incomplete state may reflect financial limitations, changing routes, or unsuitable site selection.
The complex’s central feature—the cistern (Howz), from which it takes its name—includes a stone entrance, staircase, and underground water reservoir. It is attributed to the Safavid period and displays signs of repair during the Qajar era. Adjacent to it is a cruciform underground room, possibly serving as a resting space or secondary storage, although its original function remains uncertain.
Additional structures include a standalone room, likely the earliest residential facility at the site; a watchtower, built in the Qajar era with arrow slits and strategic views; a brick kiln, likely used in the construction of later additions; a toilet facility with two cubicles; and a well, probably were using dry seasons. Field surveys revealed 18 pottery fragments—both glazed and unglazed—dating from the Safavid to Qajar periods, supporting the architectural chronology.
Howz-e Khan appears in several historical texts and travelogues between the Safavid and Qajar periods. Afzal al-Molk’s 1882 travel account details the cistern and shelter, but not the caravanserai, implying it had not been constructed yet. Later reports by British officers, including General Percy Sykes, confirm the site’s use as a water stop without mentioning a caravanserai, reinforcing the hypothesis that it was a late Qajar or early Pahlavi addition.
The site’s strategic importance on the Khorasan–Kerman route is tied to three main factors: the challenging desert terrain that often-led travelers astray, the scarcity of water which made the cisterns vital for survival, and the threat of banditry that necessitated protective architecture. Together, these factors underscore Howz-e Khan’s role as a critical node in Iran’s historical transportation network.
   
Conclusion 
Transportation networks in the arid landscapes of Iran. Located along the lesser-known segment of the Khorasan–Kerman route, this waystation exemplifies how architecture and infrastructure were adapted to meet the physical, logistical, and socio-political demands of long-distance travel through harsh desert environments. The complex’s architectural remains—particularly the Safavid-period cistern, Qajar-era watchtower, and the partially completed caravanserai—together highlight the layered evolution of the site in response to shifting travel patterns, economic needs, and security concerns.
The site’s importance can be attributed to three key factors: first, its role in ensuring survival amid the Lut Desert’s extreme conditions, where the scarcity of water necessitated reliable cisterns; second, its strategic function as a navigational and protective node in an otherwise unmarked and treacherous landscape where travelers often got lost or faced danger; and third, its position on a pilgrimage and trade corridor, which increased the demand for safe resting places and encouraged the construction of public-benefit structures.
Although the route was eventually abandoned with the advent of motorized transportation, Howz-e Khan’s remains reflect its former vitality. Its mention in travelogues, absence of early caravanserai structures, and later architectural additions confirm that the complex evolved gradually, with certain structures built in response to growing usage in the Qajar era.
Preserving and studying Howz-e Khan is not merely about safeguarding a group of desert ruins—it is about protecting a critical link in Iran’s historical infrastructure, where architecture, environment, and movement intersected. As a case study, Howz-e Khan offers valuable insights into the material expressions of resilience, community needs, and adaptation along one of Iran’s forgotten but once-thriving desert routes.