The Iranian Plateau did not experience the rise of urban civilization in the late 4th and early 3rd millennia on the Mesopotamia, but the lowland Khuzestan where the Elamite Civilization emerged.
Geographically, Elam included more than Khuzestan; it was a combination of the lowlands and the immediate highland areas to the north and to the east. Elamite strength was based on an ability to hold these various areas together under a central government, which permitted the maximum interchange of the natural resources unique to each region.
According to Iranvisitor website, the Age of Elamites is divided by historians into three distinct periods:
1. Old Elam (2600-1900 BC)
Earthen tablets record the names of two dynasties dating from this period, the Awan dynasty (2600-2100 BC) and the Simash dynasty (2100-1900 BC). Wars with Mesopotamia, particularly the city of Ur, had already begun, both sides wishing to safeguard their access to raw materials. Records state that the Sumerian king Shulgi of the 3rd dynasty of Ur (created 2094-2047 BC) captured Susa but Elam eventually rebelled and in turn overthrew the Sumerians.
2. Middle Elam (1900-1100 BC)
Wars between Elam and Sumer continued during this period. In 1746 BC the world’s first lawmaker, Hammurabi, crushed Elam and captured Susa. Before long, however, his son, Samsuiluna, was badly defeated by King Kutir Nakhunte I of the Elamites that was remembered 1,000 years later in an inscription of the Assyrian king, Ashurbanipal.
In the 13th century BC another king of this period, Untash Gal, built the city of Choghazanbil on the banks of the Ulai River. The kings of Elam, known as ’god-rulers’, had strong links with religion and would come to the city for important religious ceremonies.
The relative weakness of the Assyrian Empire at the beginning of the 13th century BC inspired King Shutruk-Nahhunte to move to Babylon. He captured the city and seized the Stela inscribed with the laws of Hammurabi, removing it to Susa where it was excavated some 3,000 years later.
However, Elamite power in central Mesopotamia was never well consolidated and King Nebuchadnezzar I of Babylon (created 1124-1103 BC) eventually resulted in the defeat of Elamites that effectively brought an end to the Middle Elam period.

3. Late Elam (800-620 BC)
Of the three centuries between the end of Middle Elam and the beginning of this new period, we know nothing at all. By the time Elam reappears in the archeological record, the central authority of Susa has receded and separately ruled principalities are in the ascendancy.
The 8th and 7th centuries BC saw a new wave of Assyrian expansion and attempts by Elam to interfere with Mesopotamian affairs, often in alliance with Babylon. However, limited successes in this policy were not enough to prevent Assyrian advances. Meaningful central authority had almost totally collapsed by the time the Assyrian king Ashurbanipal destroyed Susa. He went on to destroy Choghazanbil, killing almost the entire population of the city.

After several years of research, cultural heritage experts managed to pinpoint the original site of the city of Yazd in the pre-Islam era.
Director of Yazd Cultural Heritage Department said the primary site of present-day Yazd is between 10 to 12 kilometers from its present site, CHN reported.
“The experts managed to identify monuments dating back to Achaemenid, Ashkanid and Sassanid eras, including works of architecture, pottery, furnace and even glasswork, in the ancient city of Yazd which is located over an area of 500 hectares,“ Mohammad Hossein Khademzadeh said.
He opined that archeologists managed to discover pottery works dating back to the pre-Achaemenid era.
“If studies show aqueducts played a major role in the development of the ancient city of Yazd, it will be a great breakthrough in the history of aqueducts in Iran,“ he said.
Khademzadeh pointed out that studies by experts show that the oldest aqueduct system was used in Bam city and during the Achaemenid era.
However, some experts believe that future excavations will lead them to the exact date of the construction of aqueduct, which is probably before the Achaemenid dynasty.

The historical village of Anbouh is located some 180 km to the south of Gilan’s capital city, Rasht and 116 km to the east of Roudbar.
Based on historical documentations, the arch-shaped bridge of the village was built during the reign of the Abbassids (750-1258 AD), IRNA reported.
The grand mosque of the village, on the basis of discovered epitaphs, dates back to 1,200 years. There is an ancient castle in the village called ’Chismaroud’. The ancient Grochel cemetery is also located in this village. The oldest epitaph found in the province of Gilan belongs to Anbouh. The epitaph belongs to 451 AH. There is another epitaph in the old cemetery of the village that pertains to a Muslim combatant who was martyred while defending his country and religion in 1199 AH. The residents of the village are hospitable and always welcome tourists. They meet their own food and basic needs, such as sheep milk, yoghurt, meat, wool, pomegranate and walnuts. The people of the village are good-natured and honest. They hold special rituals, such as the Pomegranate Festival, which can help revive the spiritual legacies of the past which have been enfeebled because of western cultural onslaught.
The village’s inhabitants speak the ancient dialect of ’Tati’, which is rooted in Pahlavi language.
Head of Public Relations Office of Gilan’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Department said the second traditional Pomegranate Festival was held in the current Iranian year to revive the ancient traditions of the historical sites of Gilan, especially Anbouh Village, and promote the tourist attractions of the village, which is among the 60 exemplary tourism sites of the province.“ Jafar Abedinejad added, “The department pays special attention to the village because of its historical importance, beautiful scenery and the spiritual and religious values of its people.“
He recalled that one special feature of this year’s pomegranate festival was holding a wedding ceremony, which appealed a great deal to the people visiting the area.
The official referred to traditional wrestling contest and traditional music as other attractive programs of the festival.
“What was most interesting in the festival was that people, especially women, were dressed in local and colorful costumes,“ he observed.
The dignified people of Anbouh only have 300 hectares of hazelnut gardens and 200 hectares of pomegranate gardens.
Anbouh and other villages similar to it need more attention from the officials to preserve the cultural legacies of ancient times.

Curator of Money Museum, Parisa Andami, said that about 700 coins and 260 banknotes from different historical eras are being kept at the museum.
She noted that the museum was established in 1997, IRNA reported.
“History of money and coin in Iran dates back to the Achaemenid era (559-329 BC). Some coins have also been found belonging to the pre-Achaemenid era,“ she noted.
Andami referred to the importance of the coins in archeological findings.
“Coins and banknotes help researchers obtain information on sociopolitical, cultural and economic developments of different periods.
The general trend is that rulers of the country expressed their political, religious and philosophical viewpoints by minting coins and printing banknotes,“ she pointed out.
The official emphasized that the Money Museum is one of the most important and effective museums of the country due to hosting historical and ancient coins which provide researchers with the opportunity to learn more about different periods.