The Proto-Elamite period, also called Susa III, is a time in the ancient history of Elam, from about 3100 BC to 2700 BC. This period is known as the late Banesh period by archaeologists. Proto-Elamite sites are the oldest known civilization in Iran. The Proto-Elamite script is a writing system from the Early Bronze Age that was used for a short time before Elamite cuneiform. This script has not been completely understood yet.
History
From 8000 to 3700 BC, the Fertile Crescent saw the growth of small communities that relied on extra food produced through farming. Geometric tokens were created during this time to help manage the distribution of this surplus. The oldest known tokens come from two places in Iran’s Zagros region: Tepe Asiab and Ganj-i-Dareh Tepe.
Between 3700 and 2900 BC, the Mesopotamian civilization developed alongside new technologies, such as the plough, sailing boats, and copper metalworking. During this period, clay tablets with picture-like symbols appeared to record business activities carried out by religious temples.
Important Proto-Elamite sites include Susa and Anshan. Another key location is Tepe Sialk, where a Proto-Elamite ziggurat still stands today. Undeciphered Proto-Elamite writing has been found at Susa, Tepe Sofalin, and Tepe Yahya from this time. Early beliefs suggested Proto-Elamites were actually Elamites (people who spoke the Elamite language) due to shared cultural traits, like ziggurat construction, and the lack of evidence for large migrations between the Proto-Elamite and later Elamite periods. However, Proto-Elamite writing has now been discovered in a broader area, making this connection less certain.
Proto-Elamite pottery from the second half of the 5th millennium BC has been found at Tepe Sialk, where Proto-Elamite writing, the earliest known form of writing in Iran, was discovered on tablets from this time. Cylinder seals also first appeared during the Proto-Elamite period.
Proto-Elamite cylinder seals
Proto-Elamite seals come after the seals from the Uruk period. They share many design features with Uruk seals but have more unique styles and a more lively look.