Terbah, Islamic Era Shrines in Gilan (Case Study: Terbahs of the Shafaroud Region, Rezvanshahr)

The city of Rezvanshahr in the northwest of Gilan province consists of two parts: the plain and the mountainous regions. One of the most significant findings in the archaeological studies of the area is Terbah, which means Torbat in the lexicon and is usually used in reference to the graves of specific individuals. The main question is: What are these Torbat? Through field study, we obtained archaeological information about the sites to conduct a descriptive-analytical study on this topic. What is certain is that these types of sites are places of worship. Before they became sacred burial grounds for the locals in later periods, it seems that at one time they served as refuges for Shia individuals being pursued by fanatic Islamic rulers and later as a gathering place for Sufi circles. Thus, the Terbah have remained as sacred places due to their specific religious significance. It appears that the type of forest cover is related to the Terbah, and a specific type of tree was used in them.