cloak weaving/ba bafi man made caves

Mohammadieh loom workshops in man made caves

cloak weaving

In Muhammadieh, a precinct of Na’in, there are some man-made caves. Locals call them sardab and aba bafi. Evidence shows that they were dug by the Zoroastrian inhabitants who used to live there because the cave entrances open to the east where the sun rises. After they were abandoned by the Zoroastrians, Muslim inhabitants used them as loom workshops to weave cloaks and rugs.

There is an ancient fort over the hill, 150 m away, with a small entrance at the back. There visitors can enjoy a beautiful perspective of the village and the desert around it.

There is no fee for visiting the caves or the fort. The caves are open dawn to dusk, with a short break from noon to 13:30. Weaving cloaks by hand is one of the most valuable handicrafts and historical arts of Na’in. Some of the workshops are 700 years old.

Naein’s winter textiles are very famous and are woven from two types of sheep and camel wools. Clothing styles have changed, but the cloaks are still quite famous in some Arab countries.

cloak weaving

naein cloak weaving