Dr. Javad Safinejad, retired professor of Anthropology at the University of Tehran and a leading figure in Iranian ethnography—often called the “Father of Qanats in Iran”—passed away on Tuesday, 2nd of Dey 1404 (December 22, 2025), at the age of 96.
The announcement was made by Ali Shahidi, professor at the University of Tehran. Safinejad was a pioneer in the study of Iran’s tribes and nomadic communities, with his research on the Lur and Qashqai tribes remaining influential in Iranian anthropology. He was also renowned for his work on traditional irrigation systems, particularly qanats, and his book “Qanats in Iran and Traditional Methods of Utilization” received first prize at the 10th Farabi International Festival and was named Iran’s Book of the Year.
Born on 9th Shahrivar 1308 (August 31, 1929) in Shahr-e Rey to a Bakhtiari family, Safinejad studied History and Geography at the University of Tehran, earning his bachelor’s degree in 1336 (1957). In 1345 (1966), together with Nader Afshar Naderi, he established an independent section for tribal studies and identified the traditional Boneh agricultural method.
All through his career, he conducted extensive fieldwork among nomadic tribes, studied horticulture in Shahr-e Rey, and explored the historical geography of northern Khorasan. His notable publications include Jahan-nama (Geography of Iran and the World), Traditional Irrigation Systems in Naein, Foundations of Human Geography, and Pioneers of Geography in the Islamic World.
