🧐 ROTA #7: Ancient agriculture, sunken boats, and the rise of complex societies
Hey folks, this is issue #7 of Rhythm of the Ancients. I’m excited to say that we have a ton of new subscribers this week. A huge welcome to you all — thank you for joining us! Now, let’s get into this week’s ancient news.
🗞 Ancient Beat
New Thoughts on the Rise of Complex Societies — Researchers claim that “the production of cereal crops alone fueled the development of hierarchical societies.” While it was previously thought that the availability of fertile land was the driving force, this study indicates that societies relying solely on cereal crops experienced more political development than those that had more productive lands which supported root crops. Unlike root crops, cereal must be harvested and stored, which makes it easier to access and tax. A “taxing elite” emerged and this led to the state.
Archaeologists unearth ancient Sumerian riverboat in Iraq — A 2018 discovery of a Sumerian boat made headlines recently, as excavations have now begun. It was originally left in situ to preserve it, but erosion and traffic now threaten it. The 7-meter-long boat sunk 4,000 years ago in what was once Uruk, one of the world’s first major cities.
Ritual deposits from ancient feasts found at Palanque — The remains of hundreds of animals, as well as coal and beads, were found in a complex called El Palacio in Palanque. The findings were consistent with banquets held before construction and ritual events, where the food and objects were placed in cavities and burnt.
Viking Ship Boat Grave Discovered in Kvinesdal — A new Viking ship grave has been discovered in Norway. It is the first found in this particular area, and mounds have also been found nearby as well. It is thought to be from the late Iron Age. Note: The article did not include information about when this discovery took place.
Does Composition of Roman Coins Reflect Currency Crisis? — Within a 5-year span around 90 BCE, Roman coins went from pure silver to 10% copper. This indicates a severe currency crisis, likely due to war.
Church of the Holy Sepulchre’s ancient altar rediscovered, researchers say — Recent renovations uncovered an altar in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, believed to have been used from 1149 CE until the Crusaders left Jerusalem. It was then used again by the Greek Orthodox church until it was cast aside 200 years ago.
Shift To Farming From Hunting 12,000 Years Ago Made Ancient Europeans Shorter: Study — Researchers claim that the shift from hunting and gathering to sedentary agriculture roughly 12,000 years ago negatively impacted the health of early farmers. Neolithic people were on average 1.5 inches shorter than their predecessors, and 0.87 inches shorter than later people. Height is mostly determined by genetics, but about 20% comes from a person’s environment.
❤️ Recommended Content
According to this article, a 1,000-year-old water system built by Muslim peasant farmers is standing the test of time. In use for centuries until falling into disrepair due to the depopulation of the area, it is now being used again to help farmers through periods of drought. The system catches rainwater and snowmelt that would otherwise go into the sea and puts it into the land, renewing the aquifers.
This video details the invention of pottery 20,000 years ago. It also explains an early method where a person would weave a basket, placing clay on the inside, and fire the basket so that the clay hardens and the cord burns away. Interesting side note: The oldest known piece of pottery is actually a Venus figurine, not bowls or cookware.
According to this article, microbial fossils have been found in Canada that may date to between 3.75 and 4.2 billion years old – making them the oldest fossils ever found. This would push the timeline of life on earth back by at least 300 million years. The findings have been heavily debated since being published in 2017. True, this is not archaeology, but it’s interesting nonetheless.
If you’re interested in the less well-known features of the Great Pyramid, this video talks about the Portcullis Antechamber, and how it was used to seal the Kings Chamber.
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Until next time, thanks for joining me.
-James
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