Home Region: Iran (Southwest Asia)

Elam - Crisis Period

1100 BCE 900 BCE

D G SC WF R

EQ 2020 ir_elam_8 / IrElmCP

Preceding Entity: Add one more here.

[continuity; Elam - Inshushinak Period] [continuity] Update here

Succeeding Entity: Add one more here.

900 BCE 744 BCE Elam I (ir_neo_elam_1) [None]

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General Description

The period between c. 1100 and the mid-8th century BCE has been seen as one of decline for the Elamite civilization, ^[1] ^[2] which had by that time occupied the highlands of the south-western Iranian plateau and the fertile lowlands of the Susiana plain for over a millennium. These historically obscure centuries represent a transitional phase between the Middle Elamite and Neo-Elamite Kingdoms. Following M.-J. Steve, we have split the period at 900 BCE, resulting in a ’crisis phase’ between 1100 and 900 and an early Neo-Elamite period between 900 and 744 BCE. ^[3]
In his ’Elamite war’ of 1125-1104 BCE, the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar I invaded Elam and forced the Elamite king Hutelutush-Inshushinak to abandon Susa. ^[4] ^[5] After this date, there is a drastic reduction in written sources for the history of Elam, both in Mesopotamian documents (either Babylonian or Assyrian) and in inscriptions and tablets from Elam itself. ^[2] The traditional interpretation has been that there was a disintegration of centralized authority in Elam between the Babylonian invasion and the reemergence of well-attested Elamite kings in the 8th century BCE. ^[6] However, some scholars question this, pointing out that systematic archaeological excavation of many Elamite sites has yet to be carried out. ^[7] Further, the gaps in the Mesopotamian historical sources, instead of reflecting the disappearance of Elam as a political entity, may be a function of the political crises and famine that affected Assyria and Babylonia during this period. ^[2]
Population and political organization
Due to a scarcity of evidence, the political organization of Elam in the centuries between c. 1100 and 744 BCE remain unclear. Some archaeologists and historians argue that Elam split into multiple autonomous chiefdoms after the Babylonian invasion, ^[8] while others believe it maintained its unity as an organized and centralized state. ^[7] Documents excavated at the site of Anshan dating to the 11th century BCE hint at the survival of some form of royal administration, at least in the highlands. ^[9]
Secure population estimates for the area under Elamite control in this period are lacking.

[1]: (Liverani 2014, 461) Liverani, Marco. 2014. The Ancient Near East: History, Society and Economy. Translated by Soraia Tabatabai. Abingdon: Routledge. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/7DRZQS5Q.

[2]: (Diakonoff 1985, 18) Diakonoff, I. M. 1985. "Elam." In The Cambridge History of Iran, Vol. II: The Median and Achaemenian Periods, edited by I. Gershevitch, 1-24. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/IIDGFEPA.

[3]: (Steve 1992, 21-22) Steve, M.-J. 1992. Syllabaire élamite: Histoire et Paléographie. Civilisations Du Proche-Orient 2. Neuchâtel: Recherches et Publications. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/NVMM9G55.

[4]: (Carter and Stolper 1984, 43) Carter, Elizabeth, and Matthew W. Stolper. 1984. Elam: Surveys of Political History and Archaeology. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/2SDF8S3B.

[5]: (Vallat 1998) Vallat, F. 1998. "Elam I: The History of Elam." Encyclopaedia Iranica. London: Mazda Publishers. http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/elam-i. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/3ACKKUDJ.

[6]: (Liverani 2014, 527-28) Liverani, Marco. 2014. The Ancient Near East: History, Society and Economy. Translated by Soraia Tabatabai. Abingdon: Routledge. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/7DRZQS5Q.

[7]: Wouter Henkelman 2016, personal communication.

[8]: (Hansman 1985, 30) Hansman, J. 1985. "Anshan in the Median and Achaemenian Periods." In The Cambridge History of Iran, Vol II: The Median and Achaemenian Periods, edited by I. Gershevitch, 25-35. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/IXD6RNNR.

[9]: (Waters 2000, 10) Waters, Matthew W. 2000. A Survey of Neo-Elamite History. Helsinki: The Neo-Assyrian Text Corpus Project. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/JH4EIDJU.

General Variables

Identity and Location

1 Utm Zone

1 Original Name

1 Capital

Temporal Bounds

1 Duration

Political and Cultural Relations

1 Suprapolity Relations

1 Succeeding Entity

1 Relationship to preceding Entity

2 Polity Succession

2 Degree of Centralization

Language

1 Linguistic Family

Religion

Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale

1 Population of the Largest Settlement

1 Polity Territory

1 Polity Population

Hierarchical Complexity

Professions

1 Professional Soldier

1 Professional Priesthood

1 Professional Military Officer

Bureaucracy Characteristics

1 Merit Promotion

1 Full Time Bureaucrat

1 Examination System

Law

Specialized Buildings: polity owned

1 Irrigation System

1 Utilitarian Public Building

Transport Infrastructure

Special-purpose Sites

Information / Writing System

1 Script

1 Phonetic Alphabetic Writing

1 Nonwritten Record

Information / Kinds of Written Documents

Information / Money

1 Paper Currency

1 Indigenous Coin

1 Foreign Coin

1 Article

Information / Postal System

1 Courier

Information / Measurement System

Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)

Fortifications

1 Wooden Palisade

1 Stone Walls Non Mortared

1 Stone Walls Mortared

1 Settlements in a Defensive Position

1 Modern Fortification

1 Moat

1 Fortified Camp

1 Earth Rampart

1 Ditch

1 Complex Fortification

1 Long Wall

Military use of Metals

1 Iron

1 Copper

1 Bronze

Projectiles

1 Tension Siege Engine

1 Sling Siege Engine

1 Sling

1 Self Bow

1 Javelin

1 Handheld Firearm

1 Gunpowder Siege Artillery

1 Crossbow

1 Composite Bow

1 Atlatl

Handheld weapons

1 War Club

1 Sword

1 Spear

1 Dagger

1 Battle Axe

Animals used in warfare

1 Horse

1 Elephant

1 Donkey

1 Dog

1 Camel

Armor

1 Wood Bark Etc

1 Shield

1 Scaled Armor

1 Plate Armor

1 Limb Protection

1 Leather Cloth

1 Laminar Armor

1 Helmet

1 Chainmail

1 Breastplate

Naval technology

1 Specialized Military Vessel

1 Small Vessels Canoes Etc

1 Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service

Economy Variables (Luxury Goods) Coding in Progress.

Religion Variables Coding in Progress.

Crisis Consequence Cases Coding in Progress.

Power Transitions Coding in Progress.

Instability Events Coding in Progress.

NGA Settlements:

Year Range	Elam - Crisis Period (ir_elam_8) was in:
(1100 BCE 901 BCE)	Susiana

Home NGA: Susiana

General Variables

Identity and Location Elam - Crisis Period (ir_elam_8)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Utm Zone	39 R	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Original Name	Elam - Crisis Period	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Capital	unknown	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Temporal Bounds Elam - Crisis Period (ir_elam_8)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More
Duration	[1100 BCE ➜ 900 BCE]
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Political and Cultural Relations Elam - Crisis Period (ir_elam_8)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Suprapolity Relations	none	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Succeeding Entity	Elam - Dark Age	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity	continuity	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Succeeding Entity 900 BCE 744 BCE	Elam I (ir_neo_elam_1) [None]
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Preceding Entity	continuity; Elam - Inshushinak Period [continuity] Update here
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Degree of Centralization	quasi-polity	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Degree of Centralization	confederated state	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Language Elam - Crisis Period (ir_elam_8)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Linguistic Family	NO_VALUE_ON_WIKI	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Religion Elam - Crisis Period (ir_elam_8)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More

Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale Elam - Crisis Period (ir_elam_8)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Population of the Largest Settlement	- Undecided	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Polity Territory	- Undecided	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Polity Population	- Undecided	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Hierarchical Complexity Elam - Crisis Period (ir_elam_8)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More

Professions Elam - Crisis Period (ir_elam_8)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Soldier	Unknown Suspected	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Professional Priesthood	Unknown Suspected	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Professional Military Officer	Unknown Suspected	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Elam - Crisis Period (ir_elam_8)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Merit Promotion	Absent Inferred	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Full Time Bureaucrat	Absent Inferred	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Examination System	Absent Inferred	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Law Elam - Crisis Period (ir_elam_8)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More

Specialized Buildings: polity owned Elam - Crisis Period (ir_elam_8)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Irrigation System	Absent Inferred	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Utilitarian Public Building	Uncoded Undecided	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Transport Infrastructure Elam - Crisis Period (ir_elam_8)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More

Special-purpose Sites Elam - Crisis Period (ir_elam_8)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More

Information / Writing System Elam - Crisis Period (ir_elam_8)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Script	Unknown Suspected	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing	Unknown Suspected	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Nonwritten Record	Present	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Elam - Crisis Period (ir_elam_8)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More

Information / Money Elam - Crisis Period (ir_elam_8)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Paper Currency	Absent	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Indigenous Coin	Absent	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Foreign Coin	Absent	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Article	Present Inferred	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Information / Postal System Elam - Crisis Period (ir_elam_8)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Courier	Absent Inferred	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Information / Measurement System Elam - Crisis Period (ir_elam_8)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More

Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)

Fortifications Elam - Crisis Period (ir_elam_8)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wooden Palisade	Unknown Suspected	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared	Unknown Suspected	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Stone Walls Mortared	Unknown Suspected	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position	Present Inferred	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Modern Fortification	Absent	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Moat	Unknown Suspected	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Fortified Camp	Unknown Suspected	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Earth Rampart	Present Inferred	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Ditch	Unknown Suspected	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Complex Fortification	Unknown Suspected	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Long Wall	absent	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Military use of Metals Elam - Crisis Period (ir_elam_8)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Iron	Present Inferred	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Copper	Present	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Bronze	Present	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Projectiles Elam - Crisis Period (ir_elam_8)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Tension Siege Engine	Absent	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Sling Siege Engine	Absent	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Sling	Present	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Self Bow	Present	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Javelin	Present Inferred	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Handheld Firearm	Absent	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery	Absent	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Crossbow	Absent	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Composite Bow	Present	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Atlatl	Absent	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Handheld weapons Elam - Crisis Period (ir_elam_8)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
War Club	Present	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Sword	Present	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Spear	Present	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Dagger	Present	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Battle Axe	Present Inferred	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Animals used in warfare Elam - Crisis Period (ir_elam_8)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Horse	Unknown Suspected	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Elephant	Unknown Suspected	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Donkey	Present Inferred	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Dog	Unknown Suspected	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Camel	Unknown Suspected	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Armor Elam - Crisis Period (ir_elam_8)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wood Bark Etc	Present Inferred	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Shield	Unknown Suspected	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Scaled Armor	Unknown Suspected	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Plate Armor	Absent Inferred	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Limb Protection	Unknown Suspected	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Leather Cloth	Present Inferred	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Laminar Armor	Absent Inferred	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Helmet	Present	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Chainmail	Absent	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Breastplate	Unknown Suspected	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Naval technology Elam - Crisis Period (ir_elam_8)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Military Vessel	Absent Inferred	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Small Vessels Canoes Etc	Present Inferred	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service	Unknown Suspected	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)

Religion Variables

Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Elam - Crisis Period (ir_elam_8)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad	Present	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary	Absent	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic	Present	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life	Present Inferred	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward	Present	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners	Present	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted	Present	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife	Absent	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites	Present	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers	Absent	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain	Absent	1100 BCE 900 BCE
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Human Sacrifice Elam - Crisis Period (ir_elam_8)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More