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| Iranian Archaeological Service | |
|---|---|
| Name | Iranian Archaeological Service |
| Headquarters | Tehran |
| Region served | Iran |
| Leader title | Director |
Iranian Archaeological Service The Iranian Archaeological Service is the principal heritage agency responsible for archaeological research, site management, conservation, and museum liaison across Iran. It interfaces with institutions such as the National Museum of Iran, Tehran University, Shiraz University, and international bodies like the UNESCO and the International Council on Monuments and Sites. The Service operates alongside provincial offices in cities including Persepolis, Isfahan, Shushtar, and Tabriz and collaborates with museums such as the British Museum, the Louvre, and the Hermitage Museum.
The origins of the Service trace to early 20th-century antiquities administration influenced by figures like Ernst Herzfeld, Aurel Stein, Gertrude Bell, and Gertrud Kraus; later institutionalization occurred in the Pahlavi era with contributions from Reza Shah Pahlavi, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, and scholars from University of London, Heidelberg University, and Leiden University. Major historical milestones include interaction with the Anglo-Persian Oil Company era research initiatives, post-World War II expeditions connected to Arthur Upham Pope, bilateral projects with the Soviet Union, and later engagement with the European Commission. The Islamic Republic period saw reforms paralleling legislation like the Iranian Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization statutes and negotiations involving delegations from France, Germany, Italy, Russia, and Japan.
The Service is structured into regional directorates based in Tehran, Shiraz, Tabriz, Mashhad, Kerman, and Yazd, reporting to central offices that liaise with ministries including the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts and parliamentary committees such as the Islamic Consultative Assembly. Divisions include archaeology, conservation, legal affairs, inventory, education, and international relations, coordinating with universities like University of Tehran, Shahrekord University, Tarbiat Modares University, and research centers such as the Iranian Center for Archaeological Research and the Cultural Heritage Research Institute. Leadership pipelines have included directors trained at institutions such as Oxford University, Columbia University, Harvard University, and Sorbonne University.
Core functions encompass field survey, excavation permits, monument conservation, site management, and inventorying movable heritage with coordination with museums including the Golestan Palace, the National Museum of Iran, the Reza Abbasi Museum, and provincial museums in Tabriz and Kerman. The Service issues permits derived from laws influenced by international instruments like the 1954 Hague Convention and engages in emergency archaeology following events similar to the Bam earthquake response, working with NGOs such as ICCROM, ICOMOS, and ICOM. It also publishes reports in journals like the Iranica Antiqua, collaborates with archives such as the British Institute of Persian Studies, and involves specialists from institutions including Smithsonian Institution, Max Planck Society, and the Getty Conservation Institute.
Notable projects include long-term work at Persepolis, field campaigns at Susa, systematic excavations at Chogha Zanbil, surveys at Tepe Sialk, urban archaeology in Isfahan, and conservation at Bam Citadel (Arg-e Bam). Collaborative excavations have been run with teams from University College London, Princeton University, University of Chicago Oriental Institute, Heidelberg University, Sapienza University of Rome, University of Tokyo, and the Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology. Other significant sites are Takht-e Soleyman, Bisotun, Luristan collections, Tchogha Bonut, Marv Dasht, Gonbad-e Qabus, and paleoanthropological investigations tied to Zagros Mountains research and Paleolithic projects with partners from Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology.
The Service maintains conservation laboratories modeled on collaborations with the Getty Conservation Institute, Smithsonian Conservation Institute, and ICCROM, and coordinates exhibitions and loans with the British Museum, Musée du Louvre, Metropolitan Museum of Art, State Hermitage Museum, and regional museums like the Tabriz Museum and Kerman Museum. It oversees preventive conservation at monumental complexes such as Naqsh-e Jahan Square, Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, and Shah Cheragh shrine, and manages movable collections from archaeological missions now held in institutions such as the Pergamon Museum and private archives connected to collectors like Sir Aurel Stein and repositories like the British Library.
Protection frameworks draw on national statutes implemented by agencies like the Iranian Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization and have been shaped by international treaties including the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, and bilateral agreements with countries such as France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Russia, China, and Japan. Enforcement interacts with law enforcement bodies including provincial authorities in Fars Province, Khorasan, Sistan and Baluchestan, and customs oversight at ports like Bandar Abbas to prevent illicit trafficking similar to cases involving artifacts traced to collectors in Europe and North America.
The Service runs training programs and fellowships in partnership with UNESCO, ICCROM, ICOMOS, universities including University of Cambridge, Princeton University, University of California, Berkeley, and institutes such as the British Museum and the Institute for the Study of the Ancient Near East. Exchange initiatives involve archaeologists from Poland, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, Russia, China, South Korea, United Kingdom, and the United States and participate in conferences like the Annual Meeting of the Archaeological Institute of America and symposia at British Institute of Persian Studies. Capacity-building has been supported by grants from the European Union, technical assistance from the World Monuments Fund, and joint doctoral supervision with universities including Leiden University, Sorbonne University, Columbia University, and Yale University.
Category:Archaeology of Iran Category:Cultural heritage organizations