Discovery and excavation

The discovery and excavation of Persepolis brought this ancient Persian city back to light, revealing the grandeur and architectural sophistication of the Achaemenid Empire. While its ruins had always been visible, it wasn't until the 17th century that Western travelers and later archaeologists truly began to document, explore, and excavate the site.

Early Accounts and Rediscovery

First European Travelers: In the 17th century, European travelers began to record their impressions of Persepolis. Italian traveler Pietro Della Valle visited the site in 1621, describing the ruins and noting the impressive reliefs and inscriptions. Other travelers, such as Jean Chardin, a French explorer in the 1670s, produced detailed accounts and drawings, which stirred interest in Europe.
Inscriptions and Reliefs: While early travelers were captivated by the carvings, they couldn’t read the cuneiform and Old Persian inscriptions. They marveled at the ruins but couldn’t yet place them in historical context. Interest in deciphering these inscriptions grew in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Deciphering the Inscriptions

Cuneiform Breakthrough: In the early 19th century, the multilingual inscriptions found on Persepolis's walls and columns played a critical role in unlocking the Old Persian language. Scholars like Georg Friedrich Grotefend and later Henry Rawlinson worked on deciphering cuneiform script, using inscriptions at Persepolis and Behistun (another Persian site) as a key. By the mid-19th century, much of the Old Persian script was readable, allowing scholars to understand who built Persepolis and when.
Historical Significance Unveiled: The deciphered inscriptions revealed details about the Achaemenid kings, such as Darius I and Xerxes I, who oversaw the city’s construction. This discovery allowed scholars to place Persepolis within the timeline of the Achaemenid Empire.

Modern Archaeological Excavations (1930s–1970s)

Initial Excavations by Ernst Herzfeld: In 1931, German archaeologist Ernst Herzfeld began the first scientific excavations at Persepolis. He documented the site meticulously, uncovering the layout of the city’s palaces, halls, and ceremonial spaces. Herzfeld’s work helped identify the Apadana (audience hall), the Gate of All Nations, and the Throne Hall.
Erich Schmidt’s Aerial Survey: Following Herzfeld, Erich Schmidt from the Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago conducted further excavations from 1934 to 1939. Schmidt introduced innovative techniques, including aerial photography, to create a comprehensive map of Persepolis and its surroundings. He unearthed thousands of artifacts and documented the architectural details of the city, greatly expanding knowledge of the site.
Discovery of the Persepolis Fortification Tablets: During excavations, Schmidt’s team discovered the Persepolis Fortification Tablets—thousands of clay tablets with administrative records in Elamite and other languages. These tablets provided insights into the economic and administrative aspects of the Achaemenid Empire, detailing food rations, trade, and provisions, and illuminated daily life in Persepolis.

Conservation and Ongoing Research

Post-War Excavations and Research: Excavations continued intermittently after World War II, with teams from Iran, Italy, and other countries participating in the study and conservation of the ruins. Restoration efforts focused on preserving fragile reliefs, columns, and walls.
Conservation Challenges: The site, exposed to elements and sometimes damaged by vandalism, has faced significant conservation challenges. Persepolis was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979, ensuring increased international attention and support for its preservation.
Recent Advances and Non-Invasive Methods: In recent decades, non-invasive methods such as LiDAR, 3D scanning, and digital modeling have been used to analyze Persepolis’s structures. These technologies have allowed archaeologists to visualize the original splendor of the city and study its construction without further excavation.

Persepolis Today

Persepolis remains one of the world’s most significant archaeological sites, attracting researchers and visitors alike. The city’s ruins reveal the complexity of Persian art, culture, and governance, offering invaluable insight into the Achaemenid Empire.
Conservation efforts continue, with Iran and international teams working together to preserve and interpret Persepolis for future generations. The site stands as a testament to ancient Persian civilization, reflecting its architectural achievement and cultural significance in world history

Ernest Hertzfeld

Erich Smidt

Archaeological Work at Persepolis in more detail

Herzfeld and Schmidt

Ernst Herzfeld (1931–1934): Establishing the Framework

Ernst Herzfeld, a German archaeologist and historian of the ancient Near East, was the first to conduct systematic and scientific excavations at Persepolis. Working under the auspices of the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago, Herzfeld's mission was not only excavation, but also architectural documentation, epigraphic recording, and cultural interpretation.

Key Contributions:

Architectural Surveys: Herzfeld meticulously surveyed and mapped the terrace, palatial structures, and reliefs of Persepolis, setting a scholarly standard for fieldwork in Iran.
Epigraphic Work: He recorded and began translating inscriptions in Old Persian, Elamite, and Babylonian cuneiform, which proved crucial in reconstructing Achaemenid royal ideology.
Identification of Structures: Herzfeld identified the Apadana, Tripylon, and Palaces of Darius and Xerxes, drawing connections between inscriptions and archaeological context.
Interpretation of Reliefs: He was among the first to recognize the political symbolism in the reliefs depicting tribute-bearing delegations, interpreting them as a visual expression of imperial unity.

Herzfeld’s time at Persepolis ended in 1934, partly due to tensions over antiquities law in Iran and disagreements with American colleagues. However, his foundational work laid the groundwork for future research.

Erich F. Schmidt (1934–1939): Expanding the Project with Aerial and Stratigraphic Methods

Erich F. Schmidt, an Austrian-born American archaeologist, succeeded Herzfeld and brought a more technical, multidisciplinary approach to the site. Under his leadership, the Oriental Institute continued the excavations with enhanced funding and expanded methodology.

Key Contributions:

Aerial Photography: Schmidt was a pioneer in the use of aerial photography in archaeology. He used aircraft to capture wide-scale topographic images of Persepolis and its surrounding landscapes, greatly aiding site mapping and interpretation.
Stratigraphic Excavation: Schmidt introduced more precise excavation techniques, focusing on stratigraphy to better understand the phases of construction and occupation.
Treasury and Archives: He uncovered the Achaemenid Treasury, where a large cache of administrative tablets, 30,000 (the Fortification and Treasury Archives) was found, revolutionizing our understanding of the empire’s internal administration.
Publication and Public Access: Schmidt produced extensive field reports, photographs, and scholarly volumes, making the findings accessible to the academic world. His publications remain essential references today.

Significance of Their Combined Work

Together, Herzfeld and Schmidt:

Mapped and interpreted one of the most iconic royal complexes in the ancient world.
Revealed the Achaemenid approach to imperial ideology, architecture, and administration.
Provided concrete, primary evidence that challenged Greek-centric views of the Persian Empire (often biased in classical sources).
Laid the foundation for Iranology and modern Achaemenid historiography.

1. When did they excavate at Persepolis?

2. What methods did they use?

3. What did they discover/uncover and find? (buildings, artefacts, inscriptions, reliefs)

4. How did their findings contribute to and develop our understanding of Persepolis? ie what were their greatest achievements?

Discovery and excavation.pdf

Antiquity extract- Discovery and excavation.

Additional information on Discovery and Excavation

-Use Antiquity extract above.

The discovery of Persepolis and the changing nature of archaeological excavation over time

Text Chapter 14.3 Discovery and excavation of Persepolis

Read Chapter 14.3.

Make notes on each period of excavation at Persepolis: pre-20th Century, early 20th Century, Iranian excavations, post-Islamic revolution. Include the people/groups involved and the results of the excavation.

To describe how Persepolis was discovered and examine the key groups involved.

Learning activities

1. Textbook reading & timeline: Read through pages 317-318 of the Antiquity 1 textbook on box of books.

1. Create a timeline in your books to record and describe the key moments in the discovery and excavation of the site of Persepolis. Start from the 17th century to present day.

Building phases of Persepolis:

dark blue: 515-490

purple: 490-480

green: 480-470

red: 470-450

pink: 360-338

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