David Stronach facts for kids

David Brian Stronach (born June 10, 1931 – died June 27, 2020) was a famous British archaeologist. He was an expert on ancient Iran and Iraq. Stronach became especially well-known for his work at the ancient city of Pasargadae. He was also a professor at the University of California, Berkeley.

Early Life and Education

David Stronach was born in June 1931. His father was Ian David Stronach. David went to Gordonstoun School and then to St John's College, Cambridge. He finished his studies at Cambridge in 1958.

Discovering Ancient Worlds

In the 1960s and 1970s, David Stronach led the British Institute of Persian Studies in Tehran, Iran. This institute helped people learn about the history and culture of Persia (ancient Iran).

Later, in the 1990s, he worked on exciting digs in Nineveh. Nineveh was a very important ancient city in Iraq. His amazing work earned him special invitations. He was asked to give important lectures at famous universities like Harvard and Columbia.

Family and New Beginnings

While working in Iran, David Stronach met Ruth Vaadia. She was also an archaeologist from Israel. They got married in 1966. They had two daughters, Keren and Tami.

The family left Iran in 1979 because of the Iranian Revolution. In 1981, David Stronach became a professor at the University of California, Berkeley. He taught about the Near East until he retired in 2004.

You might know his daughter Tami! She played "The Childlike Empress" in the 1984 movie The NeverEnding Story.

Special Achievements

David Stronach received many important awards for his work. These awards showed how much his discoveries helped us understand ancient history.

• He was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1975. This is a special honor from the British Queen.
• He became a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London. This means he was recognized by a very old and respected group of historians.
• In 2004, he won the Archaeological Institute of America Gold Medal. This medal is given for amazing achievements in archaeology.