In this article the author claims that there is good reason to search in Iranian scholarly writings to find the origins of anthropology in retrospect. The author claims that the intentions of Nasser Khosrow Qobâdiyani were different from that of a student of anthropology when he/she sets out to do research to become an anthropologist, but the descriptions of what he sees are very important for various subfields of anthropology today. Nasser Khosrow paid particular attention to city planning, architecture, interior decoration of various sites, and then to water and uses of rain water, agriculture and herding. He described in great detail locations of pilgrimage where he performed what was expected, and he also gave minute descriptions of celebrations across various classes, and various ethnic and religious groups.

In this article the author claims that there is good reason to search in Iranian scholarly writings to find the origins of anthropology in retrospect. The author claims that the intentions of Nasser Khosrow Qobâdiyani were different from that of a student of anthropology when he/she sets out to do research to become an anthropologist, but the descriptions of what he sees are very important for various subfields of anthropology today. Nasser Khosrow paid particular attention to city planning, architecture, interior decoration of various sites, and then to water and uses of rain water, agriculture and herding. He described in great detail locations of pilgrimage where he performed what was expected, and he also gave minute descriptions of celebrations across various classes, and various ethnic and religious groups.