Preserving Iran's Rich Archaeological History
We are a nonprofit research foundation committed to advancing the study, preservation, and public understanding of Iran’s earliest civilizations. Our work brings archaeological knowledge to global audiences through accessible, scholarly storytelling.
Foundation for Persian Archaeological Studies (FPAS) is a nonprofit organization recognized as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions to FPAS are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
From Prehistoric Settlements to the Dawn of Early Empires
Iran’s Untold Histories
Across the Persian Plateau, long before the rise of empires, ancient hands shaped clay, carved temples, built settlements, and imagined worlds that still echo beneath the soil. These early civilizations—older than our written stories, older than our memories—formed one of the world’s most enduring cultural lineages.
Yet much of this pre-Achaemenid heritage remains quiet, overlooked, or forgotten. We believe these early voices deserve to be heard again. Their architecture, their rituals, their artistry, their ways of living and imagining the sacred—each holds a piece of who we are and how human civilization came to be.
We do this work because uncovering these stories is more than research; it is an act of remembrance. By bringing these ancient cultures back into the light, we reconnect a deep and continuous lineage of creativity and knowledge that spans millennia. In sharing them freely with the world, we hope to spark wonder, deepen understanding, and honor the profound legacy of the Persian Plateau.
Our Work
FPAS supports original archaeological research, educational programming, and public outreach focused on the early civilizations of the Persian Plateau. Our work spans the Bronze Age through the rise of the Achaemenid and Sasanian empires — periods that shaped the foundations of Persian identity but remain underrepresented in mainstream archaeological scholarship.
Through partnerships with universities, museums, and independent researchers, we help bring rigorous scholarship to broader audiences. We publish accessible writing, host public lectures, and support fieldwork that documents and preserves cultural heritage at risk of being lost to time, conflict, or neglect.
Why This Work Matters
Iran sits at the crossroads of the ancient world. Its archaeological record stretches back more than ten thousand years and includes some of humanity's earliest cities, writing systems, and metallurgical traditions. Yet much of this history is poorly documented in English-language scholarship, and active sites face ongoing threats from looting, development, and climate.
FPAS exists to change that — to ensure that the depth and brilliance of Persian civilization is preserved not only for academic specialists, but for the families, students, and curious readers who deserve to know where so much of our shared cultural inheritance began.
Get Involved
Every aspect of our work — research, education, public programs, and digital archives — is supported entirely by individual donors and partner institutions. A donation of any size directly funds the next lecture, the next field season, the next preserved record of Iran's archaeological past.
Whether you're a researcher, educator, donor, or someone simply drawn to the story of where civilization began, there is a place for you in this work.
Areas of Focus
Our research and educational programs concentrate on several interconnected areas of Persian archaeology:
Pre-Achaemenid settlements of the Iranian Plateau, including the cultures of Susa, Tepe Sialk, and Tepe Hissar
The Elamite civilization and its parallel development alongside Mesopotamia
Bronze Age trade networks that connected Iran with the Indus Valley, Central Asia, and the Levant
The cultural transitions that gave rise to the first Persian empires
Iran's archaeological heritage today — preservation, documentation, and the communities working to protect it
Recent Events
Khaneh Iran lecture Series:
Bahram Ghadiri Khamjani
March 09, 2026
Stanford Lecture Series
Jan 22, 2026
