ABSTRACT
Physical Geography and Environment of Elam (Cameron A. Petrie, Morteza Djamali and Matthew D. Jones)
This contribution presents an overview of the physical geography and environment of ancient Elam. There have been various challenges to delineating the geographical limits of the cultural and political entity that was ancient Elam, initially stemming from early misunderstandings of the location of toponyms mentioned in Mesopotamian sources. For the purposes of this discussion of Elam’s physical geography and environment, we consider all of the lowland and highland areas that were part of Elam at its greatest extent. In addition to discussing the geographical extent, geology, geomorphology, hydrology, climate and vegetation of the regions that make up ancient Elam, we also comment briefly about the historical conception of its geography.
