Transfer of cultural material from the British Institute of Persian Studies to the National Museum of Iran

Reported by Arya Heritage News Agency in Iran on 25th April, 2021.

Some of the objects transferred to the National Museum.

Dr Mounesan [Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism & Handicrafts of Iran] reported: “A collection of objects and cultural material was transferred after half a century from the British Institute of Persian Studies to the National Museum of Iran; in the past the Institute was a place where scholars, archaeologists and experts in Iranian studies, who came to Iran for research, excavations and surveys, stayed.

These groups transferred some of the cultural objects to the Institute in Qolhak, so that they could complete their research and photography ready for publications. With the arrival of the glorious Islamic Revolution some of these works remained there unfinished. These objects are from Tappeh Nush-i Jan (Hamadan), Sagzabad (Qazvin), Khurvin Alborz, Baba Jan Tappeh (Hamadan), Pasargadae (Fars), a survey in Malayer, excavations at Haftavan Tappeh (Western Azarbaijan), animal remains and ceramic sherds from different parts of Iran.

There are some 100 museum pieces in the BIPS collection, and altogether there are more than 10000 cultural pieces. These include stone objects, ceramics, bones, bricks… and all the objects are with the National Museum and being worked on. The importance of these finds is that they are results of scientific archaeological investigations in many crucial regions of the country.”

Dr Mounesan added: “We hope that in the near future we will publish this precious collection through cooperation between the Museum and the Institute, and also have an exhibition in the National Museum of Iran.”

This cultural material was transferred from the British Institute of Persian Studies to the National Museum of Iran on 13 Esfand 1399/3 March 2021.

BIPS was founded by the British Academy in 1961 and its premises in Qolhak, Shariati, were inaugurated in 1976; it is one of many international research institutes actively working under the auspices of the British Academy. This institute supports and facilitates Britain’s research on Iran and the Persianate world, and in general promotes Persian Studies in Britain and other places. The Institute in Tehran is a centre which facilitates cooperation between Iranian, British, and other international researchers.