Tehran – Iran’s German ambassador, Marx Potzel, describes archaeology as a shared language of civilization and a powerful bridge between Iran and Germany through science and culture.
In an interview with Miras Arya (CHTN), Ambassador Potzel highlighted the strategic role of archaeological cooperation in deepening intercultural connections, calling for the expansion of such engagement within new political opportunities.
Reflecting the longstanding history of archaeological cooperation between the two countries, Potzel said the German archaeological institute maintains decades of sustained interaction between Iranian research and academic institutions.
This collective civilization capacity serves as the cornerstone of broader cultural and scientific relationships as we look to a stable and promising future, he said.
The German envoy also shared personal insights into the profound effects that Iranian culture had on his life and that of his family.
Iran’s deep, authentic, multi-layered heritage left a lasting impression on us, he said. “My family has had the opportunity to live in Iran and have come to understand the country through direct involvement with living experiences and cultural heritage, not media stories,” CHTN said on Friday.
The ambassador noted that the revelation promoted Iran’s deeper, more humane and peace-oriented understanding.
In touch with the recent developments within Iran’s domestic political landscape, the top diplomats expressed their hope that the current environment could provide new opportunities to redefine and strengthen bilateral relations. He emphasized that cultural and scientific diplomacy can play a critical role in fostering meaningful dialogue between nations.
Ambassador Potzel also emphasized his active participation in field archaeological projects in Iran over the past year, stressing that his understanding of Iranian cultural heritage is based on direct experience rather than abstract theory.
He added that these shared projects are not only scientifically valuable, but could also serve as intercultural languages to form new models of collaboration.
Recognizing the legacy of Iran’s exceptional civilization, Potzel concluded by urging continued support for the joint scientific initiative.
We believe that archaeology goes beyond being a professional discipline, as a narrator of the common language of civilization and historical memory. The ambassador said it could serve as a basis for sustainable, multi-layered, future-oriented cooperation between our countries.
He emphasized that such cooperation goes beyond traditional diplomacy and promotes long-term cultural convergence and mutual understanding between the Iranian and German people.
Archaeological collaborations between Iran and Germany date back more than a century ago, with groundbreaking projects such as the excavation of Persepolis and exploring ancient sites such as Fars and Fuzestan. Ernst Emil Herzfeld (1879-1948), a German archaeologist and Iranologist, assisted in the creation of ancient Persian laws and was excavated in the capital of Achemenid, Pasargada and Persepolis.
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