Susa Clay Inscriptions Are Elamite King Diary

21 April 2005

Studies and documentation of more than 400 ancient inscriptions from Susa site, in Khuzestan province, have proved them to be the diary of the Elamite King Shilkhak-In-Shushinak (c. 1150 - c. 1120 BC).

Susa is one of the ancient sites of Iran where remains dating to the prehistoric to the Islamic times and the largest numbers of ancient tablets have been discovered. The linguists and archaeologists of Susa, headed by Dr. Abdol Majid Arfa’ii, studied some 400 of the inscriptions last year and are to study the same number this year.

As Arfa’ii explains, all the kings offered inscriptions as gifts to their Gods or wrote down a short summary of what they did. Only one king used the tablets to write down a biography of his and his family and to wish good health for his family.

“Shilkhak-In-Shushinak wrote a detailed report of his works on the clay tablets and moreover made his family eternal in the world history,” Arfa’ii told CHN.

Due to the richness of the ancient area of Susa, Iran is eager to register the site on UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites.