🧐 Ancient Beat #110: Ancient stressors, a missing sarcophagus, and a less hustly bustly Çatalhöyük

Hi folks! Welcome to issue #110 of Ancient Beat.

Lots to cover today, but first, something I thought you might be interested in: A buddy of mine is creating some very cool games that allow you to explore the ancient world. The first three games let you spend time on farms in ancient Greece, Egypt, and Rome — definitely worth checking out! This is not an ad, I just think it’s neat. 😀

And here’s the latest ancient news. 👇

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🗞 Ancient News: Top 5

• One of the World’s Earliest Farming Villages Housed Surprisingly Few People — Çatalhöyük, a Neolithic settlement in southern Turkey, long believed to have been densely populated, likely housed only 600 to 800 individuals at its peak around 8,600 years ago. This finding challenges earlier estimates of up to 10,000 residents and suggests that the proposed population boom from agriculture 10,000 years ago was smaller than previously thought. It seems that the architectural closeness of Çatalhöyük's multi-room mud-brick structures led to inflated population estimates when, in fact, many buildings probably weren’t simultaneously occupied. The findings indicated that 40% of the site was residential, with an occupation rate of about 70%. Each multi-roomed mudbrick dwelling likely housed an average of five people for a single generation (20-45 years). This new perspective has a big impact on the the narrative around the social dynamics and expansion of early Neolithic villages, indicating a more gradual spread across regions.

• Paleolithic Inhabitants of Cyprus Established Settlements Much Earlier Than Previously Estimated — New archaeological evidence from the Akamas Peninsula in Cyprus indicates that hunter-gatherers settled on the island between 14,257 and 13,182 years ago, roughly 1,000 years earlier than previously believed. This early occupation coincided with favorable climatic conditions that supported large populations. The findings suggest organized planning and advanced watercraft use, leading to rapid expansion to a population of 4,000-5,000 people within 300 years. This challenges the notion that Cyprus was inhospitable during this period.

• Archaeologists Identify The Original Sarcophagus Of Ramesses II — A team used advanced imaging techniques to confirm that a sarcophagus fragment found in 2009 in Abydos belonged to none other than Ramesses II. Ramesses’ body was found in a simple wood coffin in 1881, suggesting that it was put there as a temporary measure while looking for a more permanent place. This was after it was looted by grave robbers in ancient times. The sarcophagus, crafted from red granite, features intricate carvings and inscriptions dedicated to the Pharaoh's reign and his deities.

• Dental Enamel Study Suggests Differences In Neanderthal And Paleolithic Human Childhood Stress — Researchers analyzed 423 Neanderthal and 444 Upper Paleolithic Homo sapiens teeth, identifying childhood stress markers through enamel defects. The stress markers indicated things like malnutrition, illness and trauma. While both groups showed similar stress levels, the timing differed. Neanderthal enamel defects peaked post-weaning (2-4 years), while Paleolithic sapiens defects peaked during weaning (1-3 years). The researchers suggest that sapiens may have been malnourished during weaner due to increased energy demands, and that sapiens then reduced developmental stress after weaning with prolonged dependence of parents and efficient resource exploitation. They say that Neanderthals faced higher stress post-weaning, possibly lacking advanced childcare strategies (like longer parental dependence) that helped Paleolithic humans mitigate stress, potentially contributing to modern humans' survival advantages.

• Jungle Trek Reveals Historic Stone Engraving — While mushroom picking in Buri Ram, Thailand, a family found a 1.45-meter stone engraving of a woman in traditional dress. How cool would that be? No word on how old it is or whether they found any mushrooms.

Image credit: Surachai Piragsa

That’s it for the free Top 5! If you’re a free subscriber, sign up for the paid plan for another 26 stories and 7 recommended pieces of content covering letters from centurions, Mycenaean armor, gomphothere hunting, ancient beekeeping, stone heads, and some big hoards.

Until next time, thanks for joining me!

-James
Twitter: @jamesofthedrum

P.S. If you want access but it’s a little too steep for you right now, just email me — I want this to be accessible.

P.P.S. Paid members, read on!

🗞 Ancient News: Deep Dive