Ali Akbar Sarfaraz (; 1927 – 9 February 2024) was an Iranian

archaeologist Archaeology or archeology is the study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture. The archaeological record consists of Artifact (archaeology), artifacts, architecture, biofact (archaeology), biofacts or ecofacts, ...

. Sarfaraz was once a member of the Archaeological Service of Iran. In 1962, Sarfaraz was a member of a team that excavated an

Iron Age The Iron Age () is the final epoch of the three historical Metal Ages, after the Chalcolithic and Bronze Age. It has also been considered as the final age of the three-age division starting with prehistory (before recorded history) and progre ...

site in Yanik Tepe. The excavation uncovered an artifact made of bone and resembling a pair of spectacles buried with the body of a girl. If, as Sarfaraz hypothesized, this artifact once held lenses, they would represent the earliest known use of

corrective lens A corrective lens is a transmissive optical device that is worn on the eye to improve visual perception. The most common use is to treat refractive errors: myopia, hypermetropia, astigmatism, and presbyopia. Glasses or "spectacles" are w ...

es. From 1976 to 1977, Sarfaraz led a "rescue excavation" at Khatunban after artifacts plundered from the site were confiscated. In 1999, Sarfaraz directed the excavation of Charkhab Palace of

Cyrus the Great Cyrus II of Persia ( ; 530 BC), commonly known as Cyrus the Great, was the founder of the Achaemenid Empire. Achaemenid dynasty (i. The clan and dynasty) Hailing from Persis, he brought the Achaemenid dynasty to power by defeating the Media ...

. Sarfaraz died on 9 February 2024, at the age of 96.علی‌اکبر سرافراز درگذشت

References

1927 births 2024 deaths Iranian archaeologists {{Iran-stub fa:علی اکبر سرافراز