Home Region:  Iran (Southwest Asia)

Elam I

900 BCE 744 BCE
D G SC WF RG EQ 2020  ir_neo_elam_1 / IrNElm1
Preceding Entity: Add one more here.
1100 BCE 900 BCE Elam - Crisis Period (ir_elam_8)    [None]

Succeeding Entity:
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Displayed: 800 BCE

-800-789-778-767-756-745-734-723-712-701


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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
Social Complexity Variables
Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Economy Variables (Luxury Goods) Coding in Progress.
Religion Variables Coding in Progress.
Crisis Consequences Coding in Progress.
Power Transitions Coding in Progress.

NGA Settlements:

Year Range Elam I (ir_neo_elam_1) was in:
 (900 BCE 744 BCE)   Susiana
Home NGA: Susiana
General Variables
Identity and Location Elam I (ir_neo_elam_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Original Name Elam Confident 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Capital Susa Confident 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Alternative Name Elam - Neo-Elamite I Confident 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Temporal Bounds Elam I (ir_neo_elam_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Duration [900 BCE ➜ 744 BCE] Confident
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Political and Cultural Relations Elam I (ir_neo_elam_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Succeeding Entity Elam - Neo-Elamite II Confident 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Preceding Entity
1100 BCE 900 BCE
Elam - Crisis Period (ir_elam_8)   [None]  Confident
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Degree of Centralization quasi-polity Confident 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Degree of Centralization confederated state Confident 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Language Elam I (ir_neo_elam_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Linguistic Family NO_VALUE_ON_WIKI Confident 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Religion Elam I (ir_neo_elam_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale Elam I (ir_neo_elam_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Polity Territory - Undecided 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Polity Population - Undecided 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Hierarchical Complexity Elam I (ir_neo_elam_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Settlement Hierarchy [3 to 5] Confident 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Religious Level - Undecided 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Military Level [3 to 5] Confident 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Administrative Level [3 to 5] Confident 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Professions Elam I (ir_neo_elam_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Priesthood Present Inferred 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Professional Military Officer Present Inferred 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Elam I (ir_neo_elam_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Law Elam I (ir_neo_elam_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Buildings: polity owned Elam I (ir_neo_elam_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Irrigation System Present Inferred 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Transport Infrastructure Elam I (ir_neo_elam_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Road Present Inferred 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Special-purpose Sites Elam I (ir_neo_elam_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Information / Writing System Elam I (ir_neo_elam_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Written Record Unknown Suspected 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Script Unknown Suspected 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing Present Confident 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Nonwritten Record Present Confident 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Non Phonetic Writing Absent Confident 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Elam I (ir_neo_elam_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Information / Money Elam I (ir_neo_elam_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Precious Metal Unknown Suspected 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Paper Currency Absent Confident 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Indigenous Coin Absent Confident 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Foreign Coin Absent Confident 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Article Present Inferred 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Information / Postal System Elam I (ir_neo_elam_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Postal Station Unknown Suspected 900 BCE  744 BCE
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General Postal Service Unknown Suspected 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Courier Present Confident Uncertain 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Courier Absent Confident Uncertain 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Information / Measurement System Elam I (ir_neo_elam_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications Elam I (ir_neo_elam_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Wooden Palisade Unknown Suspected 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared Unknown Suspected 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Stone Walls Mortared Unknown Suspected 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position Present Inferred 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Modern Fortification Absent Confident 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Moat Unknown Suspected 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Fortified Camp Unknown Suspected 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Earth Rampart Present Inferred 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Ditch Unknown Suspected 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Complex Fortification Unknown Suspected 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Long Wall absent Confident 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Military use of Metals Elam I (ir_neo_elam_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Steel Absent Confident 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Iron Present Confident 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Copper Present Confident 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Bronze Present Confident 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Projectiles Elam I (ir_neo_elam_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Tension Siege Engine Absent Confident 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Sling Siege Engine Absent Confident 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Sling Present Inferred 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Self Bow Present Confident 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Javelin Present Inferred 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Handheld Firearm Absent Confident 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery Absent Confident 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Crossbow Absent Confident 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Composite Bow Present Inferred 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Atlatl Absent Confident 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Handheld weapons Elam I (ir_neo_elam_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
War Club Present Confident 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Sword Present Confident 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Spear Present Confident 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Polearm Present Confident 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Dagger Present Confident 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Battle Axe Present Confident 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Animals used in warfare Elam I (ir_neo_elam_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Horse Present Confident 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Elephant Unknown Suspected 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Donkey Present Inferred 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Dog Unknown Suspected 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Camel Unknown Suspected 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Armor Elam I (ir_neo_elam_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Wood Bark Etc Present Inferred 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Shield Unknown Suspected 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Scaled Armor Unknown Suspected 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Plate Armor Absent Inferred 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Limb Protection Unknown Suspected 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Leather Cloth Present Inferred 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Laminar Armor Absent Inferred 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Helmet Present Confident 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Chainmail Absent Confident 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Breastplate Unknown Suspected 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Naval technology Elam I (ir_neo_elam_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Military Vessel Unknown Suspected 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Small Vessels Canoes Etc Present Inferred 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service Unknown Suspected 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)
Religion Variables
Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Elam I (ir_neo_elam_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad Present Confident 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary Absent Confident 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic Present Confident 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life Present Inferred 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward Present Confident 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners Present Confident 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted Present Confident 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife Absent Confident 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites Present Confident 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers Absent Confident 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain Absent Confident 900 BCE  744 BCE
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Human Sacrifice Elam I (ir_neo_elam_1)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Instability Data
Power Transitions