Formation and Development of the City of Bukan Based on Historical Sources and Archeological Findings

Bukan is one of the most important Kurds-residing cities of the South of West Azerbaijan and the third most populous city of this province after Urmia and Khoy. Some of the events and incidents in relation to Bukan and its great figures have been recorded in the travelogues of a number of travelers and researchers such as Minorsky, Demorgan, and others during the Qajar era. Historical evidence suggests that this city was built during the reign of Naser al-Din Shah Qajar based on the foundation of a small and sparsely populated village. At this time, the city of Bukan experienced great growth and expansion due to the attention it received from Aziz Khan Mokri Family. The present paper aims to provide a response to the questions of: “what were the important elements affecting the development and expansion of Bukan?” and “what were the reasons for choosing the present location as the official ruling center of the region during the Qajar period?” It is assumed that the main reasons for this choice were the particular spatial status and linking feature of the village of Bukan among all the residential areas of the region. Through benefitting from library and field methods, the findings of the study indicate that, in addition to the specific linking and geographical conditions of the region, the efforts of its local rulers, particularly Mokri Family, played a significant role in the establishment of administrative, religious, and non- profit units in this area. Moreover, some new spaces were added to the Qajar core of this city during the Pahlavi period.