Dr Firouz Bagherzadeh (1930 – 2021)

Former and Founding Director of the Archaeological Centre of Iran

It is with deep regret and sadness that BIPS announces the passing in Paris of Dr Firouz Bagherzadeh, who was the first Director of the Archaeological Centre of Iran.

Firouz Bagherzadeh was born in 1930 in Tabriz, Iran. After education in Tehran, the US, SOAS London, and Paris he returned to Iran, and in 1971 he set up the Centre of Archaeological Research as part of the Archaeological Service. He then embarked on a period of intense activity which transformed archaeology in Iran and gave it an international standing. Firouz Bagherzadeh was instrumental in preserving ancient sites and monuments of Iran, bringing to an end the division of finds for foreign excavations, and giving a scientific shape to Iranian archaeology. Amongst his many achievements were annual archaeological conferences in Tehran with the publication of Iranian and foreign excavation reports.

He and his family moved to Paris after the Islamic Revolution of 1979. He never returned to his homeland, but always kept in close touch with friends and former colleagues, who whenever possible visited him and paid their respects when in Paris.

Firouz Bagherzadeh was a life-long member and supporter of BIPS and attended the BIPS international conference on Iranian Art and Archaeology in London in 1992.

BIPS sends it condolences to Dr Bagherzadeh’s daughters, Mardjan and Morvarid and their respective families.

The obituary of Dr Firouz Bagherzadeh, by Dr Vesta Sarkhosh Curtis, can be found here.