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This thin-walled pottery bowl was made over 6000 years ago at a pre-historic site known as Tall-i Bakun, just 3km south of what later became the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire in Persepolis, Iran.

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This thin-walled pottery bowl was made over 6000 years ago at a pre-historic site known as Tall-i Bakun, just 3km south of what later became the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire in Persepolis, Iran.

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The entrance to Persepolis of Iran, ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire, 550–330 BC.

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The entrance to Persepolis of Iran, ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire, 550–330 BC.

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A Staircase in Persepolis, Ceremonial Capital of the Persian Empire, Iran, 500 BC

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A Staircase in Persepolis, Ceremonial Capital of the Persian Empire, Iran, 500 BC

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This is the city of Hamadan, founded in the 12th century BC. It became the first Iranian capital in 700 BC, chosen by both the Achaemenid and Parthian Empires as their summer capital, looted by Alexander, sacked by the Mongols, yet still holds its ancient layout with 600,000 inhabitants.

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This is the city of Hamadan, founded in the 12th century BC. It became the first Iranian capital in 700 BC, chosen by both the Achaemenid and Parthian Empires as their summer capital, looted by Alexander, sacked by the Mongols, yet still holds its ancient layout with 600,000 inhabitants.

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Discovered in a cave in southern Poland in the 1980s, this prehistoric boomerang was made from a mammoth tusk and estimated to be 18,000 years old. But new analysis has uncovered that the boomerang is between 39,000 to 42,000 years old, making it the oldest known boomerang in history.

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Discovered in a cave in southern Poland in the 1980s, this prehistoric boomerang was made from a mammoth tusk and estimated to be 18,000 years old. But new analysis has uncovered that the boomerang is between 39,000 to 42,000 years old, making it the oldest known boomerang in history.

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A visitor standing in front of the Colossal Bull Capital from the Achaemenid Empire , related to the Audience Hall of Darius the Great at Persepolis.

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A visitor standing in front of the Colossal Bull Capital from the Achaemenid Empire , related to the Audience Hall of Darius the Great at Persepolis.

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When Alexander marched toward Persepolis in 330 BC and set the city ablaze, Persian artisans were carving the capital of a new column. Over 2,300 years later, the unfinished capital still sits on the same stone base where it was being shaped.

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When Alexander marched toward Persepolis in 330 BC and set the city ablaze, Persian artisans were carving the capital of a new column. Over 2,300 years later, the unfinished capital still sits on the same stone base where it was being shaped.

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In 1949, artists from Iran and Italy gathered to create the history's first statue of a Persian king made in the West: Nader Shah, known in Europe as the "Napoleon of the East." Six years later, a 14-ton statue arrived from Rome at his tomb in Mashhad, where it greets visitors today.

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In 1949, artists from Iran and Italy gathered to create the history's first statue of a Persian king made in the West: Nader Shah, known in Europe as the "Napoleon of the East." Six years later, a 14-ton statue arrived from Rome at his tomb in Mashhad, where it greets visitors today.

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A 2,500-year-old Persian Acinaces, one of the few remaining royal swords from the Achaemenid Empire in exceptional condition. Made of pure gold and related to the era of Darius the Great, it was discovered in Hamadan , and is housed at National Museum of Iran.

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A 2,500-year-old Persian Acinaces, one of the few remaining royal swords from the Achaemenid Empire in exceptional condition. Made of pure gold and related to the era of Darius the Great, it was discovered in Hamadan , and is housed at National Museum of Iran.

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Statue of Empress Atossa , who was the daughter of Cyrus the Great, wife of Darius the Great, and mother of Xerxes the Great, making her connected to the entire Achaemenid dynasty. The lapis lazuli statue was discovered in Persepolis, and is housed at National Museum of Iran.

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Statue of Empress Atossa , who was the daughter of Cyrus the Great, wife of Darius the Great, and mother of Xerxes the Great, making her connected to the entire Achaemenid dynasty. The lapis lazuli statue was discovered in Persepolis, and is housed at National Museum of Iran.

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An Achaemenid plaque, the only surviving artifact bearing the emblem of the Empire’s flag. Dating to 550–330 BC, it was discovered in Persepolis and is housed at the National Museum of Iran.

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An Achaemenid plaque, the only surviving artifact bearing the emblem of the Empire’s flag. Dating to 550–330 BC, it was discovered in Persepolis and is housed at the National Museum of Iran.

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A historical jar from the Parthian Empire, dating to 247 BC–224 AD, has been discovered. It was accidentally caught in the nets of local fishermen in southern Iran while they were fishing in the depths of the Persian Gulf. Few Parthian jars have survived, making this discovery remarkable.

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A historical jar from the Parthian Empire, dating to 247 BC–224 AD, has been discovered. It was accidentally caught in the nets of local fishermen in southern Iran while they were fishing in the depths of the Persian Gulf. Few Parthian jars have survived, making this discovery remarkable.

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The tomb of Darius the Great is one of the four tombs for Achaemenid kings at the historical site of Naqsh-e Rostam, located about 12 kilometres northwest of Persepolis in Iran

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The tomb of Darius the Great is one of the four tombs for Achaemenid kings at the historical site of Naqsh-e Rostam, located about 12 kilometres northwest of Persepolis in Iran

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In 2003, the upper half of a decapitated torso was discovered in a bog near Croghan Hill, a site important in Irish myths. Despite the man having been killed over 2,100 years old, the remains were so well-preserved that his fingerprints are still intact.

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In 2003, the upper half of a decapitated torso was discovered in a bog near Croghan Hill, a site important in Irish myths. Despite the man having been killed over 2,100 years old, the remains were so well-preserved that his fingerprints are still intact.

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The personal bowl of Xerxes the Great , inscribed in Old Persian with "I am Xerxes, the Great King." Housed at the National Museum of Iran.

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The personal bowl of Xerxes the Great , inscribed in Old Persian with "I am Xerxes, the Great King." Housed at the National Museum of Iran.

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This painting of a cave bear, at the Chauvet Cave in France, was drawn with 14 lines around 32,000 years ago. The artist used a technique known as 'stump-drawing' - the use of fingers or a piece of hide to paint the muzzle and to emphasize the outlines of the head and forequarters

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This painting of a cave bear, at the Chauvet Cave in France, was drawn with 14 lines around 32,000 years ago. The artist used a technique known as 'stump-drawing' - the use of fingers or a piece of hide to paint the muzzle and to emphasize the outlines of the head and forequarters

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Relief depicting guards with spears. Persepolis, Iran, Achaemenid Empire, 6th-5th century BC

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Relief depicting guards with spears. Persepolis, Iran, Achaemenid Empire, 6th-5th century BC

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