Forensic Archive of Iran
A citizen-led investigative archive documenting crimes against Iran’s cultural heritage.
What We Do
The archive documents and analyzes risks to Iranian cultural heritage through:
• citizen reporting
• independent documentation
• pattern analysis of heritage threats
• monitoring suspicious movement of cultural objects
• emergency documentation during political instability
Current Areas of Investigation
• Physical damage to heritage sites
• Fires and explosive incidents
• Looting and illicit excavation
• Movement of cultural objects and museum collections
• Heritage destruction during armed conflict
• Legal and planning threats to heritage protection
• Cultural policy contradictions
• Transitional heritage governance
Why the Archive Exists
Independent documentation of cultural heritage risks in Iran is extremely difficult due to restricted institutional transparency.
On June 15, 2025, immediately after the start of the 12-Day War, Islamic Republic authorities announced the transfer of key historical artifacts from major museums to undisclosed storage locations.
At the same time:
• museum websites became inaccessible
• public information about collections disappeared
• independent verification became impossible
The Forensic Archive of Iran was created to document cultural heritage risks in environments where institutional transparency is limited.
Help protect what remains. Submit evidence, images, or updates on the theft, disappearance, or suspicious movement of Iran’s cultural heritage.