Abbas Alizadeh

Last updated September 02, 2019

Abbas Alizadeh received his B.A. in art and archaeology of ancient Iran from the Department of Archaeology of Tehran University in 1975, and his M.A. in 1982 from the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations of the University of Chicago. In 1988 he received his Ph.D. with high honors from the same department. The title of his doctoral thesis is “Mobile Pastoralism and the Development of Complex societies in Highland Iran.” In the following year, his thesis won the Best Dissertation Award from the Center for Iranian Studies. In 2012 his 2006 book The Origins of State Organizations in Prehistoric Highland Fars won the

From 1988 to 1991 he was Associate Curator and Research Associate and Instructor at Harvard’s University Semitic Museum. He returned to the University of Chicago in 1991 as Senior Research Associate and Director of Iranian Prehistoric Project to conduct research and teach various courses on Iranian archaeology.

Alizadeh’s fieldwork includes various surveys and excavations in North Africa, Jordan and Anatolia. Alizadeh’s focus is Iran where he has conducted archaeological surveys in Fars and Khuzestan as well as excavations at Tall-e Bakun A and B, Tall-e Jari a and B, and Tall-e Mushki in Fars, and Chogha Bonut, Chogha Mish, Dar Khazineh, Chogha Do Sar, Tappeh Beladieh, and Abu Fanduweh in Khuzestan. Since his excavations at Chogha Bonut in 1996, his methods of collecting fauna and flora through floatation has been adopted widely by the young generation of Iranian archaeologists, as well as the use of Harris Matrix to simplify the visualization of archaeological stratigraphy.

Alizadeh was the first Iranian archaeologist to formulate an alternative model for the development of early state organizations in south and southwestern Iran. In this model, Alizadeh considers the role of ancient nomads of southwestern Iran and their interactions with the settled farmers as key factors in the formation of the early state in the region. Spurred by his model, a large number of Iranian archaeologists conducted field research that focused on finding archaeological evidence of the existence of ancient nomads in both highlands and lowlands of western and southwestern Iran.

From 2000-2001, Alizadeh established the Pottery Bank at the National Museum in Tehran, Iran, using large unpublished collections of sherds from archaeological surveys and excavations for all the regions in Iran. This Pottery Bank has been developed into a major research and education center for Iranian archaeologists and students.

In 2015, Alizadeh was again invited to the National Museum of Iran to rescue, study and classify large unpublished collections of archaeological objects and pottery sherds from hundreds of excavations in Iran that had been stored in the warehouses of the Museum since 1940s. This year-long project also culminated in the establishment of another research center at the Iran National museum.

From 2013-2014 Alizadeh was invited by the Susa Archaeological Base at the French Chateau at Susa, Khuzestan, to rescue, classify and organize huge archaeological collections in the Chateau’s immense storerooms that had been deposited by the French archaeologists since 1930s. Those archaeological collections are now available for researches at the newly established Susa Archaeological Research Center, at Susa.

Alizadeh has written 9 books and numerous articles in both Persian and English. He is also the author of the only Persian language book in Iran on methods and theory in archaeology. Most of his publications focus on the ancient nomads and their role in the emergence of social complexity.

Bibliography

Abbas Alizadeh (2016) “A Dream Project: ‘Excavations’ of Hundreds of Archaeological Sites in the Iran National Museum.” Oriental Institute News & Notes 229: 22-27

Abbas Alizadeh (2015) “An Archaeological and Philological Research Center at Susa.” Oriental Institute New & Notes 225: 4-8

Abbas Alizadeh, S. Aghili and S. Sarlak (2015) “Highland-Lowland Interaction in the Late 4th and Early 3rd Millennium BC: The Evidence from Qoli Darvish, Iranian Central Plateau.” Archäologische Mitteilungen aus Iran und Turan 45: 149-168

Abbas Alizadeh, L. Ahmadzadeh and M. Omidfar (2015) “Reflections on the Long-term Socioeconomic and Political Development in the Ram Hormuz Plain, a Highland-lowland Buffer Zone.” Archäologische Mitteilungen aus Iran und Turan 45: 113-148

Abbas Alizadeh, L. Ahmadzadeh and M. Omidfar (2014) Ancient Settlement Systems and Cultures in the Ram Hormuz Plain, Southwestern Iran. Excavations at Tall-e Geser and Regional Surveys of the Ram Hormuz Area. Oriental Institute Publications 140.

Abbas Alizadeh (2013) “The Problem of Locating Ancient Huhnuri in the Ram Hormuz Region.” NABU 2013/3 (September).

Abbas Alizadeh (2010) “The Rise of Highland Elamite State: Enclosed or Enclosing Nomadism?” Current Anthropology 51(3): 353-83

Abbas Alizadeh (2008a) The Rise of the Elamite State in Highland Iran (in Persian)

Abbas Alizadeh (2008b) “Prehistoric Mobile Pastoralism in Southwestern Iran.” In Nomads, Tribes, and State in the Ancient Near East. Oriental Institute Special Publications no. 5. Jeffrey Szuchman, editor. pp. 129–46. Chicago: Oriental Institute

Abbas Alizadeh (2008c) Chogha Mish, volume II: The last 6 seasons of Excavations. Oriental Institute Publications 130. Chicago: Oriental Institute.

Abbas Alizadeh (2008d) “Archaeology and the Question of Mobile Pastoralism in Late Prehistory.” In The Archaeology of Mobility: Old world and New World Nomadism. Hans Barnard and Willeke Wendrich, editors. UCLA Cotsen Advance Seminars 4: 78-102

Abbas Alizadeh (2006) The Origins of State Organizations in Highland Iran: The Evidence From Tall-e Bakun A. Oriental Institute Publications 128.

Abbas Alizadeh (2005) “Preliminary Report on the joint ICHTO-Oriental Institute Excavations at KS-004 and KS-108 in Lowland Susiana, Southwestern Iran.” Annual Report 2004/05: 56-68.

Abbas Alizadeh (2004a) “Wanderhirten: Ihre Bedeutung für die Kulturgeschichter und vorgeschichter Zeit.” In Persiens Antike Pracht: Bergbau, Handwerk, Archaologie. Thomas Stöllner, Rainer Slotta, and Abdolrasool Vatandoust (eds.). pp. 76–91. Bochum: Deutsches Bergbau-Museum.

Abbas Alizadeh (2004b) “Chogha Mish.” In Persiens Antike Pracht: Bergbau, Handwerk, Archaologie. Thomas Stöllner, Rainer Slotta, and Abdolrasool Vatandoust (eds.). pp. 166–77. Bochum: Deutsches Bergbau-Museum.

Abbas Alizadeh, N. Kouchoukos, T. Wilkinson, A. Bauer, M. Mashkour (2004) “Human- environment Interactions on the Upper Khuzestan Plains, Southwest Iran.” Paléorient 30/1: 69-88

Abbas Alizadeh (2003a) Excavations at the Prehistoric Mound of Chogha Bonut, Khuzestan, Iran. Oriental Institute Publications 120. Chicago: Oriental Institute.

Abbas Alizadeh (2003b) "Archaeological Surveys in the Valleys Northwest of the Marv Dasht." In, Yeki Bud, Yeki Nabud: Essays Presented to William Sumner. Naomi Miller and K. Abdi, (eds.), pp. 83–97. Los Angeles: University of California.

Abbas Alizadeh (2003c) The National Museum Guide to the Pottery Bank. Tehran: Iranian Cultural Heritage Organization.

Abbas Alizadeh (2003d) “Joint Archaeological and Geomorphological Research Expedition in Lowland Susiana.” Oriental Institute News and Notes.

Abbas Alizadeh (2000) Methods and Theory in Archaeology: With Chapters on Evolutionary Biology and Epistemology. Mirath Farhangi: Tehran (in Persian)

Abbas Alizadeh (1998) "Archaeology, History, and Neuropsychology." Bastanpajhohi 3:5-9. (In Persian).

Abbas Alizadeh (1997) “Preliminary Report on Archaeological Surveys in the Kur River Basin and Northwestern Marvdasht, Fars.” ICHO Archaeological Reports 1:67-88. (in Persian with English summary)

Abbas Alizadeh (1995) "Archaeological Surveys in Northwestern Fars, Iran." Annual Report, Oriental Institute, pp. 29–32

Abbas Alizadeh (1994) "Social and Economic Complexity and Administrative Technology in a Late Prehistoric Context." In Archives Before Writing, Proceedings of the International Colloquium, Oriolo Romano, October 23–25, 1991. P. Ferioli, E. Fiandra, G. Giacomo Fissore, and M. Frangipane (eds.), pp. 35–54.

Abbas Alizadeh (1992) Prehistoric Settlement Patterns and Cultures in Susiana, Southwestern Iran: The Analysis of F.G.L. Gremliza Survey Collection.Technical Report No. 24. Department of Anthropology, University of Michigan. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press

Abbas Alizadeh (1988) "Socio-economic Complexity in Southwestern Iran During the 5th and 4th Millennia B.C.: The Evidence from Tall-e Bakun A." Journal of the British Institute of Persian Studies 26: 17-34.

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References

Lawler, A. (2003-11-07). "Chicago Scholar Is Keystone in Bridging Two Worlds". Science. 302 (5647): 978–9. doi:10.1126/science.302.5647.978. PMID 14605346.
Excavations at the Prehistoric Mound of Chogha Bonut, Khuzestan, Iran, Seasons 1976/77, 1977/78, and 1996 - by Abbas Alizadeh, with contributions by N. F. Miller, A. M. Rosen, and R. W. Redding

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External links

Iranian Prehistoric Project

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