A masterpiece of early Islamic architecture: The Noh-Gonbad Mosque in Balkh, Afghanistan

The Noh-Gonbad Mosque is one of the oldest examples of Islamic architecture, and it is undoubtedly the most ancient mosque of Afghanistan, dated from 794 A.D., few decades after Muhammad's Hegira. With its particular building technologies and magnificent stucco decoration, it represents a masterpiece. In this paper, a part of the multidisciplinary restoration project is reported. In particular, the comprehensive investigation carried out to define mechanical, physical and chemical characteristics of building materials is presented. The key findings available in the literature on the birth of the mosque have been synthesised and linked to technological and constructive evidence collected on site, which suggests the purpose of realising a simple but yet impressive building. Using data gathered on the field together with experimental results it has been possible to identify the static consistency of the arcade system and carry out a preliminary vulnerability assessment.