Archaeological Excavations of European Iranologists in Persepolis in Qajar period

Persepolis is the most important and most famous historical and ancient monument of Iran, which during the last centuries has received the most attention at national and international levels in the field of archeology and identification of Iranian archaeological sites. This building has attracted the attention of foreign travelers and Iranian scholars, particularly during the Qajar era, and has raised questions about the background and founders of this unique stone building among Iran’s architectural and historical works. The present study seeks to examine the archeological developments and excavations of the aforementioned travelers and Iranologists and explain their role in identification and clarification of various historical aspects of Persepolis during the Qajar period, based on the travelogues and direct reports of European Iranian scholars, while examining the historical procedure of attracting the attention of European archeologists and discussing less questioned issues such as the evolvement of scientific excavations in Persepolis. The hypotheses of this research emphasize the pivotal and fundamental role of European researchers and Iranologists in recognition and study of Persepolis; excavations and studies that have gradually shifted to scientific methods and standards since the late Qajar period. Also, based on a library research method and a descriptive-analytical method, the results of this study shows that through the excavations and studies of European Iranologists, Persepolis is recognized as the throne and capital of the Achaemenids and it becomes the throne of Achaemenid kings from the throne of Jamshid, the mythological king of Iran.