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Boucharlat, Rémy
« Ernst Herzfeld and French Approaches to Iranian Archaeology », in : Ann C. Gunter & Stephan R. Hauser, eds., Ernst Herzfeld and the Development of Near Eastern Studies, 1900-1950. Leiden/Boston, 2005, pp. 429-444.
The differences between the German and the French approaches in archaeology during the first half of the 20th century in Iran, are well expounded in Boucharlat’s paper. The political, professional and personal backgrounds of the main protagonists – the German Herzfeld and the French de Morgan and de Mecquenem – are a good source of information for anyone wanting to understand where the interests of both countries lay and why. There is ample attention for the difference in main scope of the French archaeologists – the Susiana in relation to Mesopotamia – and Herzfeld – the whole of Iran as a connection point between East and West. Both their legacy is still felt today: from all European countries active on the Near Eastern archaeological scene during the years pre-World War II, only the German and the French took firm root in Iran, even if their interests are different; chronologically, culturally and geographically. Between the lines one can also read why exactly the French finally lost their digging monopoly in Iran. The article thus gives a good account on how different background, politics and interests engender different aims, scopes and results in the archaeological field.

