É. Apor (ed.): Stein, Aurel: Old Routes of Western Iran. (Budapest Oriental Reprints, Ser. B 2.)
Chapter I.—In Westernmost Färs
94 IN WESTERNMOST FA RS [Chap. I decayed owing to inferior construction. The lower bridge was thrown across the river-bed, here about 100 yards wide, by means of two large arches resting on an intermediate pier. The position of this is marked by two solid blocks of cemented masonry lying upheaved in the river. Those who built the later bridge, probably in early Islamic times, had obviously tried to learn from the experience of what had befallen the still bolder central arch of the older bridge. The force of some exceptionally high flood may have defeated their aim also. The piers of the main arches are still standing on either bank and are massive enough in build, with rough stones set in mortar. They are not provided with buttresses. Their bases show a facing of roughly squared slabs of no great size set in regular courses. In this respect their masonry differs strikingly from that of the main piers of the upper bridge. There the core of cemented rough stones is faced with large cut blocks carefully dressed but not showing regular courses. These large stone blocks appear to have been obtained from a completely ruined rectangular structure situated about 30 yards above the left bank pier of the upper bridge. All that remains of it is a base about 4 feet high, showing a core of cemented rubble with a bottom course of ashlar formed of large slabs. These show by holes where they had been secured by metal clamps long since removed. The slabs of the surviving ashlar course show a uniform height of 18 inches but vary in length. The survival of the rubble core of the structure proves that the ashlar facing above the bottom course had been quarried for use in the upper bridge. The base was completely broken on
