Ancient languages of Mesopotamia: Elamite

2 min readJun 7, 2023

Bilingual Linear Elamite-Akkadian inscription of king Puzur-Inshushinak, Table au Lion, Louvre Museum

The Ancient Elamite language refers to the extinct language spoken in the ancient region of Elam, which corresponds to present-day southwestern Iran. Elam was an ancient civilization that existed from around 3200 BCE to 539 BCE.

The Elamite language is considered a language isolate, meaning it does not appear to be related to any other known language. It was written using a script known as Linear Elamite, which has not been fully deciphered. However, a related script called Old Elamite Cuneiform has been partially deciphered, providing some understanding of the language.

Proto-Elamite

The above picture shows an Elamite tablet in Proto-Elamite script

During the Proto-Elamite period (c. 3100 BC to 2700 BC), also known as Susa III, the area of Elam, located in present-day Iran, witnessed the emergence of the oldest civilization in the region. This period corresponds to the late Banesh archaeological period.

The Proto-Elamite script was a writing system that developed during this time. It was used for a relatively short period before being replaced by Elamite cuneiform, a more complex writing system. The Proto-Elamite script remains only partially deciphered, and its full understanding is still a subject of ongoing research.

The existence of the Proto-Elamite script provides valuable insights into the early development of writing systems in the ancient Near East and sheds light on the cultural and historical aspects of the Elamite civilization during that era.

The surviving texts in the Ancient Elamite language are mostly administrative records, royal inscriptions, and other similar documents. The decipherment and study of the Elamite language have contributed valuable insights into the history and culture of the Elamite civilization.

It’s important to note that our knowledge of the Ancient Elamite language is limited, and there are still significant gaps in understanding due to the incomplete decipherment of the scripts.