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The prehistoric period of Iran, marked by early human presence and settlements, is considered to have lasted until roughly the start of the 1st millennium BC.
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Following the prehistoric period, the protohistoric period covers the first half of the 1st millennium BC.
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The Achaemenid Empire, the first Persian Empire, was established in the 6th century BC, marking a significant period in Iranian history and its entry into the historical record.
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Iran is considered one of the oldest, continuously existing major civilizations due to the long history of habitation and the presence of urban settlements.
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Archaeological sites in Iran, particularly in the Zagros Mountains region, show evidence of early agricultural communities dating back to 10,000 BC.
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The Elamite civilization, one of the oldest in the Near East, emerged in southwestern Iran around 3200 BC.