The DAI has been conducting archaeological fieldwork in Iran since 1959, beginning with excavations at the Sassanid sanctuary of Takht-e Solaiman. In 1961, a separate department was established in Tehran, from which major excavation campaigns were carried out in Firuzabad, Bisotun and Bastam until 1982, as well as extensive survey and documentation campaigns in many parts of Iran. Since 1996 the Tehran Department has been a branch of the Eurasia Department. The office building in the Elahiye district provides space for offices, meeting and working rooms, and a library, and has established itself as a meeting place for German researchers and Iranian colleagues.