One of the oldest cities of the ancient Near East, on the Susiana plain of Khuzestan; its Chalcolithic Susa I-II phases (fine painted 'Susa ware' pottery) predate its later role as the capital of Elam and, still later, the winter capital of the Achaemenid Persian Empire.
Became the political center of the Proto-Elamite culture and then the historical Elamite state, and much later served as an Achaemenid, Parthian, and Sasanian capital/regional center.
Covers Susa's Chalcolithic origins through its role as Elamite capital.