During the Proto-Elamite period (late fourth millennium BC), it became one of the main cities of the region, thanks to its location on important trade routes.

[4] The Marv Dasht area, where the highland city of Anshan is located, is a complex of several interconnected valleys and plains.

The earliest evidence of Anshan can be found in the Sumerian King List where many references are made to rulers of Awan.

Following this, Gudea of Lagash claimed to have subjugated Anshan in 2200 BC and the Neo-Sumerian rulers Shulgi and Shu-Sin of Ur are said to have maintained their own governors over the place.

[2][7] In the Old Babylonian period, king Gungunum of Larsa dated his 5th regnal year after the destruction of Anshan.

[10] The main feature is a low flat-topped mound of about 130 hectares running 4–6 metres (13–20 ft) in height.

On three sides are the remains of a city wall, 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) in length and 20 meters wide, which dates from the Late Banesh and Kaftari periods.

[17][18] Abdi returned for a further six week dig in 2004 by the Cultural Heritage Organization of Iran and Dartmouth College.

A photograph was published in a French archaeological publication which contained inscriptions from this brick that were key to identifying the lost city of Anshan[20] These inscriptions were written in Elamite and believed to be part of a temple built by the Elamite kings to honor the gods at Anshan.

After translating a group of tablets that were found at the site the following season, Erica Reiner, from the University of Chicago's Oriental Institute, was able to match these writings to those on the brick.

The oldest group contains 33 tablets and fragments made of unbaked clay that date back to the third millennium BC (in Level III).

The third set of tablets (in Level II), in Elamite cuneiform, are the ones used by Erica Reiner to positively identify Anshan's location.