[CPProt.net] Iranian Archaeology Wouldn't Grow Behind the Closed Doors

[MSN and CPProt list (Ton Cremers)]

Iranian Archaeology Wouldn't Grow Behind the Closed Doors  

Tehran, Feb. 22 (CHN) -- The ancient sites of Iran were explored extensively
by foreign archaeologists before the Islamic revolution of 1979. The work
was surely advantageous; however, some Iranians were skeptical of their
activities, believing that their cultural heritage was being looted to find
a home outside the country - a sad experience that led the Iranian to form
joint Iranian and foreign archaeology teams, in which the Iranian part
worked as the watchdog to guarantee that no artefacts were exported to the
other side of the borders, and no information was kept from the original
possessors. 

After the Islamic Revolution of 1979, the archaeological activities and
studies in Iran underwent a period of lethargy, while the science was
revolutionized at the end of the 50s all around the world, creating a new
domain called modern archaeology. 

Today the world of archaeology is different from that of several years ago;
it is no more based solely on objects discovered, and no archaeologist
travels to some country just to bring home artefacts, and no one keeps his
gained information for himself. 

Despite all, some Iranian officials and experts are still opposing the
presence of foreign teams in their country. Some base their opposition on
the fact that Iranians suffice the domain both in number and expertise, and
others bring up the same old fear of the historical objects being looted. 

Abbas Alizadeh, an Iranian senior research associate in the Oriental
Institute of the Chicago University who has for some time supervised foreign
teams of archaeologists working in different parts of Iran, has talked to
CHN of his view toward the matter. 

He believes that following the 20-year-long recession in the archaeology of
Iran after the Islamic Revolution, the presence of foreign experts in Iran
has been a necessity. "During the end of Seyed Mohammad Beheshti's time in
Iran's Cultural Heritage Organization, major steps were taken in this
regard, and the first team to enter Iran was from the Chicago University,
led by myself. International cooperations gradually expanded, with the
officials in favor of new approaches, especially wanting the Iranian experts
to be educated by their foreign counterparts," he explained. 

Archaeology of Iran, a country rich with ancient sites, has had its own
problems, naming lack of experts and lack of knowledge of the new
developments of the sphere. Moreover, the joint teams have faced some
problems, such as those of language and lack of research facilities, yet the
officials are becoming more aware that the Iranian archaeology wouldn't grow
behind the closed doors. "Even if all the Iranian experts were at an
international level, considering the scientific and technical matters, they
were not enough to fulfill the needs of just one province of the country,"
said Alizadeh. 

It is a while now that foreign experts are working on Iranian sites;
however, it was the changes made in the Iranian Cultural Heritage and
Tourism Organization and the appointment of the new director general,
Hussein Marashi, which boomed the cooperations significantly. 

Alizadeh believes these cooperations will help the enthusiast Iranian
students of the major and enrich the domain from several points of view:
first of all, the foreign experts would expand their knowledge of Iran, and
introduce the country's archaeology to their students back at home;
secondly, the foreign students working with the experts in Iran would return
to their countries as Iranologists. As a result, studies of Iran would be
revived once again around the world. 

Lots of works should still be undertaken to pave the way toward virtually
joint activities. For example, a proper definition of a joint team and its
activities, and some regulations should be provided to facilitate the joint
archaeological activities in Iran. Moreover, administrative conditions, such
as visa endorsement, should be eased. 

Alizadeh names the current times the transition era of Iranian archaeology,
the advantages of which will appear in time if proper measures are taken. 
 
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