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Ali Sami (1910-1989) was an Iranian archaeologist, historian and the first Iranian excavator of Persepolis.

Sami was born into an educated family in Shiraz. His father, Aqa Bozorg Sami was a teacher of the Persian and Arabic literature, as well as a miniaturist.

Sami studied the Persian literature and history, and became a teacher in 1936. As an employee of the provincial office of the Ministry of Public Instruction, he participated in the restoration and construction of some of the historical monuments in Shiraz such as Hafezia, the Pars Museum and the Masjed-e Atiq. It was in Shiraz that he first met Erich Schmidt, who frequently came to Shiraz for administrative matters and to procure provisions while he was working at Persepolis. After the departure of the Oriental Institute expedition, Sami began his work at Persepolis as an accountant. Gradually developing an interest in excavation, he became an energetic field archaeologist. He was later appointed Director of the Scientific Bureau at Persepolis (Bongāh-e Elmiy-e Takht-e Jamshid). During the twenty years of his tenure at Persepolis (1941-1961) he excavated various parts of the site and explored other sites of the region, notably Pasargadae.

For a detailed biography, see M. Mousavi, “Yadi az Ali Sami,” Iranian Journal of History and Archaeology 3/2, 1989, pp. 77-80 (in Persian).