<P> Over the course of the first half of the 19th century, Iran lost many of its territories in the Caucasus, which had been a part of Iran for centuries, comprising modern - day Eastern Georgia, Dagestan, Azerbaijan, and Armenia, to its rapidly expanding and emerged neighboring rival, the Russian Empire, following the Russo - Persian Wars between 1804--13 and 1826--8 . </P> <P> The earliest archaeological artifacts in Iran were found in the Kashafrud and Ganj Par sites that are thought to date back to 100,000 years ago in the Middle Paleolithic . Mousterian stone tools made by Neandertals have also been found . There are more cultural remains of Neandertals dating back to the Middle Paleolithic period, which mainly have been found in the Zagros region and fewer in central Iran at sites such as Kobeh, Kunji, Bisitun Cave, Tamtama, Warwasi, and Yafteh Cave . In 1949, a Neanderthal radius was discovered by Carleton S. Coon in Bisitun Cave . Evidence for Upper Paleolithic and Epipaleolithic periods are known mainly from the Zagros Mountains in the caves of Kermanshah, Piranshahr and Khorramabad and a few number of sites in the Alborz and Central Iran . During this time, people began creating rock art . </P> <P> Early agricultural communities such as Chogha Golan in 10,000 BC along with settlements such as Chogha Bonut (the earliest village in Elam) in 8000 BC, began to flourish in and around the Zagros Mountains region in western Iran . Around about the same time, the earliest - known clay vessels and modeled human and animal terracotta figurines were produced at Ganj Dareh, also in western Iran . There are also 10,000 - year - old human and animal figurines from Tepe Sarab in Kermanshah Province among many other ancient artifacts . </P> <P> The south - western part of Iran was part of the Fertile Crescent where most of humanity's first major crops were grown, in villages such as Susa (where a settlement was first founded possibly as early as 4395 cal BC) and settlements such as Chogha Mish, dating back to 6800 BC; there are 7,000 - year - old jars of wine excavated in the Zagros Mountains (now on display at the University of Pennsylvania) and ruins of 7000 - year - old settlements such as Tepe Sialk are further testament to that . The two main Neolithic Iranian settlements were the Zayandeh River Culture and Ganj Dareh . </P>

Which of the following individuals was the leader of persia the land that is also known as iran