Proto-Elamite Culture in Light of the Newly Analysed Proto-Elamite Tablet from the State Hermitage Museum

Document Type : Research Article

Author

Department of History, Harran University, Şanlıurfa, Türkiye.

10.22111/ijas.2026.53158.1369

Abstract

The period, approximately between 3300 and 2700 BCE in Iran, is known as the Proto-Elamite Period, and
the culture associated with this timeframe is referred to as the Proto-Elamite Culture. Centred in southwestern
Iran, this culture has been identified at several archaeological sites, most notably Susa and Anshan. Excavations
at Susa, which began in the mid-19th century, and those at Anshan, initiated in the mid-20th century, have yielded
significant findings related to the Proto-Elamite Culture. Among the most important discoveries are the Proto-
Elamite clay tablets, which provide insights into the socioeconomic structure of the Period. These tablets were
written in the Proto-Elamite script, recognised as the first writing system developed in Iran. They contain records
pertaining to agriculture and animal husbandry, calculated using various accounting methods. This study examines
an unpublished Proto-Elamite tablet housed in the State Hermitage Museum. It offers detailed observations and
interpretations of the inscriptions and signs on the tablet. Furthermore, it compares the tablet with other Proto-
Elamite tablets, noting similarities and differences. The tablet in question records information about small livestock
herds, specifically goats and sheep. As it contains details related to animal husbandry, its content aligns with that
found in other Proto-Elamite tablets. This study aims to advance research on the Proto-Elamite period by providing
a decipherment of the Proto-Elamite tablet preserved in the State Hermitage Museum. İt utilises archaeological
excavation reports and various modern scholarly works to enhance our understanding of this significant cultural
period.

Keywords

References

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Iranian Journal of Archaeological Studies
Volume 16, Issue 1
2026
Pages 39-44

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