Page 6 - Expotime10_11_2017

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Somayeh Khaleseh Ranjbar

Susa/Shush: World heritage with some flaws

Susa/Shush in Khuzistan, the Southwest of Iran, is one of
the oldest cities in the world. Archeologists found items
of a developed civilisation which are 6200 years old.
There are traces of a village which are even 2000 years
older and excavations brought painted pottery to light
which was modelled around 5000 BC.

Susa was the capital of the ancient kingdom Elam (3000-
620 BC), one of the most important early Middle East
Empires and the city was even mentioned in Sumerian
records, together with the city of Uruk. Because Elam
was for some time splitted into different centres of
power, the term Susiana for the empire around Susa is
common.

The people of Elam developed in the second half of the
4 millenium BC a writing system. Together with its
th
neighbours, the city states of Mesopotamia, Elam
became one of the first High Cultures ‒ before Babylon,
before Persia and at the same time as the pre-dynastic
Egypt. Susa was not just one of the oldest but one of the Near East topographic map. Source: Wikimedia Commons / Sém-
longest inhabited cities of all times: People lived here hur / Wkotwica / Morningstar1814
without longer pauses from 4000 BC until the 13th cent.
AD, when the Mongols destroyed it. 1

In July 2015 ancient Susa became a UNESCO World boundaries and are of common importance for present
Heritage after UNESCO experts visited the ruins in and future generations. With 350 ha, Susa is also one of
2
November 2014. These sites possess cultural significance the biggest excavation sites worldwide.
which is so exceptional as to transcend national

Susa/Shush archaeological site. All photos, if not otherwise mentioned: U. Anhalt

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EXPOTIME!, issue October / November 2017