National Museum

National Museum: Many of us remember the history of Iran since the arrival of the Aryans on the Iranian plateau and the formation of states like the Medes, the Achaemenids, and the Sassanians, and we have little knowledge of what had happened in this land before.

Whereas people of ancient times lived in this ancient land, step by step, before passing the line of invention and history, passing on their knowledge and culture to future generations.

The slow but steady movement that led them from hunting to monotony and ruralization then led to the creation of powerful and expansive cities and states, marking various historical eras.

After the arrival of the Aryans in Iran, the people of Iran went through centuries, ups and downs, and various governments brought Iran to the present day. Iran, envied by many nations for its many-thousand-year history, seeks to seize part of its history in its favor.

Introduction to the National Museum of Iran, The largest archeological and historical museum in the country

Among the various museums that exist in our country, the National Museum of Iran holds the Museum of Reference. Many tourists prioritize visits to the museum and its unique treasures during their trips to Tehran.

An 80-year-old museum that is the largest museum of archeology and history of Iran and is also one of the world’s top museums in terms of volume, variety, and quality.

The main purpose of this museum is to preserve and research Iranian monuments and present them to current and future generations. In the National Museum of Iran, about 300,000 important objects are kept from different eras, and by reviewing its artifacts you can get a good overview of Iran’s past, from the Paleolithic to the contemporary.

The oldest work preserved in this museum dates back to 600,000 years ago and is the oldest evidence of human presence on the Iranian plateau. In fact, the ancient and valuable treasures of our country in the National Museum of Iran, in two buildings of the Museum of Ancient Iran and the Museum of the Islamic era have been exposed to visitors.

Iran Ancient Museum

The oldest museum in the country, it is a famous red and brick building with its tall and beautiful arch, well known among other buildings. The museum has two sections and its various works are on two floors.

The prehistoric section occupies the second floor of the museum and the historical part of the artifacts is preserved on the first floor.

The prehistoric section of the museum is on the second floor and features works from the ancient Paleolithic to the late fourth millennium BC (from the oldest to the invention of the line).

Paleolithic

The Late Paleolithic is divided into three periods: Old, Middle Paleolithic, and New Paleolithic. The most ancient man-made artifacts in Iran have been discovered in the ancient sites of Kashafrud in Khorasan, Dar Gan Treasure and Cave in Gilan, Shivetu in Mahabad, and Ladiz in Sistan and Baluchistan.

Ancient Paleolithic stone tools dating back more than one million to two hundred and fifty thousand years ago. Early humans used these tools to cut the flesh and skin of animals, break their bones, and cut wood.

The beginning of the Middle Paleolithic period goes back to more than two hundred thousand years. This period lasted forty thousand years ago.

Neanderthal humans and probably early modern humans lived in Iran during this period. Their artifacts include flint tools, animal fossil remains found in caves, scraper types, and sharp tools for carcass butchery hunting and skin preparation …

The new Paleolithic period began 40,000 years ago and ended 20,000 years ago. The intelligent man of today lived in this period. In this age, stone tools from blades and scraps, bone tools, and personal decorations such as shell pendants, animal teeth, and so on became popular.

One of the most important places where humans lived in the new Paleolithic period can be found in Lorestan, Malaver, and Khar caves in Kermanshah province.

Neolithic period

The period of urbanization and the formation of cities covers the period from about 10,000 to 5,000 years ago. The first of these villages were created with residential units of raw stone and clay in the Zagros region.

Residents of these villages were able to tame some of the animals, plant cereals, and eventually produce food. One of the most important innovations of the Neolithic period was the invention of pottery from 6800 to 7000 BC.

Pottery is a substance that does not exist in nature and is very stable so many of them remain so far.

Formation of Early Governments and Urban Communities, The Elamite period

The artifacts of this period date back to about 3300 to 700 BC. The first cities in Iran were built by the Elamites.

They built these cities in southwestern Iran (Khuzestan and Fars). The history of their Elamite civilization dates from the four periods of the early Elamite (3300 to 2700 BC), the Old Elamite (2700 to 1500 BC), the Middle Elamite (1500 to 1100 BC), and the New Elam (1000 to 539 BC).

There are many works leftover from these periods, but the mid-Elamite period is the peak of the power of this civilization. Ziggurat Choghazenbil is the most famous architectural monument of this era and is also listed on the UNESCO World List.

Bronze Age

From 3000 to 1500 BC, there is a period in Iranian history called the Bronze Age. The widespread use of copper alloy and the first steps in the formation of the government occurred during this period.

Things that took human civilization a few steps further. The technology of using alloys of copper (a mixture of copper and tin) has produced a vast array of objects such as containers, weapons, horse fittings, human and animal figures, and ornamental objects.

A vast variety of artifacts from this period have been obtained in Lorestan which has made this land known as the Bronze Capital of the World.

Iron Age

The period between the Bronze Age and the Achaemenid Empire in Iran is called the Iron Age. One of the features of this period is the familiarity of the Iranian people with the iron smelting.

Another interesting thing about this time period is the increase in the knowledge of Iranian pottery makers in various forms, especially animal forms. Another important feature of the Iron Age is the prevalence of similar burial patterns in different places and territories.

The Achaemenid period

One of the most fascinating and important parts of the museum, The Achaemenid Persian Empire was established about 2500 years ago and reached its peak of power and prosperity from the west to the Aegean and the Mediterranean Sea and Egypt and from the east to India and the Hindu Kush Mountains.

Its founder is Cyrus the Achaemenid, and documents from this period indicate the widespread use of the line in the Achaemenid state apparatus.

Documents containing accounting, management, payroll, employee wages, and other details. During this period Darius the coin was first minted and various masonry and metalworking techniques flourished.

Museum of the Islamic era

The Museum of the Islamic era exhibits monuments of the Islamic era – from the early days of Islam to the Qajar period. The museum boasts a stone-built facade next to the Iran Museum Ancient and its various artistic and historical treasures are on display for visitors on two floors.

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