Massoud Azarnoush
Encyclopedia
Massoud Azarnoush was an Iranian archaeologist.
He was born in Kermanshah
. He received his MA from the department of archaeology
at University of Tehran
in 1972 and his PhD from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1985. After returning to Iran, he taught at the University of Tehran before taking up the direction of the Iranian Center for Archaeological Research. He had a fundamental role in reorganizing the ICAR in its new building in the Mas'udieh Palace. Azarnoush helped young archaeologists and students to join to the ICAR and participate in various archaeological research and activities. Although his career was historical archaeology
, but he had a keen interest in developing research on the pre- and proto-history of Iran, especially Paleolithic
studies. He emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary studies such as archaeobotany and zooarchaeology
. Azarnoush welcomed international cooperation, and the series of rescue excavations in the Bulaghi gorge near Pasargadae
in cooperation with teams from Germany, France, Poland has been one of the rare successes of archaeological fieldwork in Iran during the past 20 years. He excavated at important sites such as Kangavar, Hamadan
, Susa
, and Hajiabad where he found a Sassanian manor house at with stucco decorations, which served the basis for his doctoral dissertation and book. He was preparing a field project at the Parthian remains at Qaleh Yazdgird near Kermanshah. He re-investigated Tepe Hegmataneh in Hamadan
. His excavations demonstrated that the actual remains date to the Parthian
period at the earliest. Median Ecbatana should be sought elsewhere. He prematurely died of a heart attack on his return from the excavations at Hamadan at the age of 63.
Azarnoush,M. 1991 From Persepolis to al-Fustat: Continuation of Achaemenid Architectural Concepts, Proceedings of the Second European Conference of Iranian Studies.Held in Bamberg, 30 September - 4 October 1991. B.G. Fragner - C. Fragner - G. Gnoli - R. Haag-Higuchi - M. Maggi and P. Orsatti (eds.). Roma.
Azarnoush,M.1994 The Sasanian Manor House at Hajiabad, Iran.Firenze,Le Lettere Coll.Monografie di Mesopotamia
Azarnoush, M., 1999, Kangavar, un temple seleucide d'Anahita devient un monument sassanide,Dossiers d'archéologie. Empires perses d'Alexandre aux Sassanide
Azarnoush, M. and B. Helwing, 2005 Recent Archaeological Research in Iran - Prehistory to Iron Age. Archaeologische Mitteilungen aus Iran und Turan vol. 37.
He was born in Kermanshah
Kermanshah
Kermanshah is a city in and the capital of Kermanshah Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 784,602, in 198,117 families.The overwhelming majority of Kermanshahi people are Shi'a Muslims...
. He received his MA from the department of archaeology
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
at University of Tehran
University of Tehran
The University of Tehran , also known as Tehran University and UT, is Iran's oldest university. Located in Tehran, the university is among the most prestigious in the country, and is consistently selected as the first choice of many applicants in the annual nationwide entrance exam for top Iranian...
in 1972 and his PhD from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1985. After returning to Iran, he taught at the University of Tehran before taking up the direction of the Iranian Center for Archaeological Research. He had a fundamental role in reorganizing the ICAR in its new building in the Mas'udieh Palace. Azarnoush helped young archaeologists and students to join to the ICAR and participate in various archaeological research and activities. Although his career was historical archaeology
Historical archaeology
Historical archaeology is a form of archaeology dealing with topics that are already attested in written records. These records can both complement and conflict with the archaeological evidence found at a particular site. Studies tend to focus on literate, historical-period societies as opposed...
, but he had a keen interest in developing research on the pre- and proto-history of Iran, especially Paleolithic
Paleolithic
The Paleolithic Age, Era or Period, is a prehistoric period of human history distinguished by the development of the most primitive stone tools discovered , and covers roughly 99% of human technological prehistory...
studies. He emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary studies such as archaeobotany and zooarchaeology
Zooarchaeology
Zooarchaeology, also known as Archaeozoology, is the study of animal remains from archaeological sites. The remains consist primarily of the hard parts of the body such as bones, teeth, and shells...
. Azarnoush welcomed international cooperation, and the series of rescue excavations in the Bulaghi gorge near Pasargadae
Pasargadae
Pasargadae , the capital of Cyrus the Great and also his last resting place, was a city in ancient Persia, and is today an archaeological site and one of Iran's UNESCO World Heritage Sites.-History:...
in cooperation with teams from Germany, France, Poland has been one of the rare successes of archaeological fieldwork in Iran during the past 20 years. He excavated at important sites such as Kangavar, Hamadan
Hamadan
-Culture:Hamadan is home to many poets and cultural celebrities. The city is also said to be among the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities.Handicrafts: Hamadan has always been well known for handicrafts like leather, ceramic, and beautiful carpets....
, Susa
Susa
Susa was an ancient city of the Elamite, Persian and Parthian empires of Iran. It is located in the lower Zagros Mountains about east of the Tigris River, between the Karkheh and Dez Rivers....
, and Hajiabad where he found a Sassanian manor house at with stucco decorations, which served the basis for his doctoral dissertation and book. He was preparing a field project at the Parthian remains at Qaleh Yazdgird near Kermanshah. He re-investigated Tepe Hegmataneh in Hamadan
Hamadan
-Culture:Hamadan is home to many poets and cultural celebrities. The city is also said to be among the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities.Handicrafts: Hamadan has always been well known for handicrafts like leather, ceramic, and beautiful carpets....
. His excavations demonstrated that the actual remains date to the Parthian
Parthian Empire
The Parthian Empire , also known as the Arsacid Empire , was a major Iranian political and cultural power in ancient Persia...
period at the earliest. Median Ecbatana should be sought elsewhere. He prematurely died of a heart attack on his return from the excavations at Hamadan at the age of 63.
Selected bibliography
Azarnoush,M. 1987 Sassanian Art in Eastern Fars: The excavation of a manor house at Hajiabad, Darab, Iran, 346 P., Ph.D. thesis, University of California, Los Angeles.Azarnoush,M. 1991 From Persepolis to al-Fustat: Continuation of Achaemenid Architectural Concepts, Proceedings of the Second European Conference of Iranian Studies.Held in Bamberg, 30 September - 4 October 1991. B.G. Fragner - C. Fragner - G. Gnoli - R. Haag-Higuchi - M. Maggi and P. Orsatti (eds.). Roma.
Azarnoush,M.1994 The Sasanian Manor House at Hajiabad, Iran.Firenze,Le Lettere Coll.Monografie di Mesopotamia
Azarnoush, M., 1999, Kangavar, un temple seleucide d'Anahita devient un monument sassanide,Dossiers d'archéologie. Empires perses d'Alexandre aux Sassanide
Azarnoush, M. and B. Helwing, 2005 Recent Archaeological Research in Iran - Prehistory to Iron Age. Archaeologische Mitteilungen aus Iran und Turan vol. 37.