The emergence of Susa as a city, as determined by radiocarbon dating, dates back to early 4,395 BC. There are dozens of prehistoric sites across the Iranian plateau, pointing to the existence of ancient cultures and urban settlements in the 4th millennium BC. During the Bronze Age, Iran was home to several civilizations including Elam, Jiroft, and Zayande River. Elam, the most prominent of these civilizations, developed in the southwest of Iran, alongside those in Mesopotamia. The emergence of writing in Elam was paralleled to Sumer, and the Elamite cuneiform was developed since the 3rd millennium BC.
What ancient city dates back as early as 4395 BC in Iran? How long ago did ancient cultures and settlements exist across the Iranian plateau? During what Age was Iran the site of several of these ancient civilizations? Which ancient civilization in Iran during the 4th Millenium was the most prominent? Elam's writing system had paralleled Sumer's cuneiform since what era?