Sadegh Malek Shahmirzadi

{{ |Name = Sadegh Malek Shahmirzadi |Background = Archaeology, Anthropology |Birth_name = Sadegh Malek Shahmirzadi |Born =
, Iran |Occupation = Archaeologist, Anthropologist, Author }}

Early life and education

Sadegh Malek Shahmirzadi (Persian: صادق ملک شهميرزادی) (born April 24, 1940) is an Iranian archaeologist and anthropologist. In 1964 he finished his BA in archaeology at the University of Tehran. He was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to study at the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago. After returning to Iran in 1970, he started teaching at the University of Tehran. Four years later, with a fellowship from the Ministry of Higher Education and Tehran University, he studied Anthropology at the University of Pennsylvania and obtained his Ph.D. in Prehistoric Anthropology in 1977.

Career

Shahmirzadi is the author of over 60 research articles and books. Shahmirzadi's book, Dictionary of Archeology English-Persian-Persian-English, published in 1997, is still in print.

Tepe Sialk is reportedly one of the most important prehistoric excavations in Iran, and a team of Iranian archaeologists led by Sadegh Malek Shahmirzadi launched the Sialk Reconsideration Project in 1999.

In 2004, the Iranian Cultural Heritage News Agency reported that, "Iranian archeologists planned to identify the food basket and diet of the people who lived in the historical site of Sialk over 7,000 years ago," and "Shahmirzadi, discoverer of the ziggurat, [was] head of the research team," according to Payvand.com.

Speaking at the Bolaghi Gorge Seminar held on Jan. 20, 2007 in Tehran, Shahmirzadi said, “Until some 40 years ago, people did not show much interest toward archeological sites and the issue of cultural heritage was somehow unknown but today we are witnessing such a large gathering with the presence of a large number of experts and NGOs who show great concern for preserving cultural heritage of Iran and their heart is beating for Bolaghi Gorge as a historical and national heritage site.” "The...inundation of Sivand Dam...issue evoked strong opposition from cultural heritage enthusiasts and NGOs who are concerned with the fate of the historic site of Bolaghi Gorge, demanding Iranian authorities prevent flooding of the Dam. The majority of those who attended at the conference and also most of archeologists who work on Bolaghi Gorge categorically protested against flooding of Sivand Dam, accompanied by placards to show their objections to inundation of the Dam."

Chapters of the books, Iranian Scientists, and "Iranian Archaeologists," published May 2010, are devoted to Sadegh Malek Shahmirzadi. Professor Michael D. Danti, is a visiting Professor in Boston University's Department of Archaeology thanked "Sadegh Malek Shahmirzadi for involving me in his research project at Tepe Sialk."

Bibliography (partial list)

• 1978, Introduction to Sociology (in Persian).
• 1994, Fundamental of Archaeology, Prehistoric Iran, Prehistoric Mesopotamia and Art and Archeology of Ancient Egypt (in Persian).
• 1996, English for Student of Archeology.
• 1996, Dictionary of Archaeology English-Persian-Persian-English. (ISBN 964-01-0844-8)
• 1996, Iranian Houses.
• 1998, History of Early Iran (in Persian); co-authors with Dr. M. Haririan, Dr. J. Amoozgar, and N. Mirsaidi. (Fifth printing 2006).
• 1999, Prehistoric Iran; Iran From The Earliest Times to the Dawn of Urbanism.
• 2000, Agh Tepe; co-author with Jebraeil Nokandeh.
• 2004, The Silversmiths of Sialk (in Persian). (ISBN 9647483872)
• 2006, Sialk, The Oldest Fortified Village of Iran; Iranian Center for Archaeological Research, Tehran, Iran.