π§ Ancient Beat #143: Mythological dispersion, poison arrows, and the start of the Iron Age
Hey hey! Welcome to issue #143 of Ancient Beat β hereβs the latest ancient news. π
π Ancient News: Top 5
Where Did the Iron Age Begin? β Recent analyses of charcoal and pottery from the Sivagalai burial site in Tamil Nadu, southern India, suggest that the Iron Age in this region began around 3300 BCE. This predates previous estimates, which placed the advent of ironworking in the Hittite Empire (now Turkey) around 1380 BCE. The findings indicate that while the Indus Valley civilization was in its Copper Age, southern India had already transitioned to iron use. Artifacts recovered include knives, arrowheads, rings, chisels, axes, and swords. Researchers plan to further study the chemical composition of these items to understand early iron production techniques.
Remote Sensing Tools Yield Insights into Abandoned Pre-Columbian Mexican City β Recent lidar (light detection and ranging) surveys have unveiled that Guiengola, a 15th-century Zapotec site in Oaxaca, Mexico, was a sprawling fortified city rather than merely a military fortress. Covering approximately 890 acres, the city featured over 1,100 structures, 2.5 miles of defensive walls, an internal road network, and a clearly organized urban layout with temples and communal spaces like ballcourts. Distinct neighborhoods housed elites and commoners separately. Evidence suggests the city was abandoned just before the Spanish arrival, with inhabitants relocating about 22 miles away to Tehuantepec, where their descendants reside today.
The Mythological Tapestry of Humanity: Unraveling Ancient Stories Through Genes and Geography β A recent study explores how global mythological patterns mirror human migration and cultural diffusion over the past 60,000 years. By analyzing over 2,000 mythological motifs alongside genetic data, researchers found that certain narratives, such as tales involving the planet Venus or rainbow-origin myths, are shared across continents. These shared stories likely originated during early human dispersals out of Africa, suggesting that storytelling has been a fundamental aspect of human culture since its inception.
DNA and Radiocarbon Analysis Provide New Insights into Prehistoric Mammoth Bone Complex β At the Kostenki 11-Ia site in western Russia, researchers conducted biomolecular analyses on 39 mammoth bones, dating to approximately 24,000β25,000 years ago. The circular structure, measuring about 39 by 33 feet, comprises nearly 3,000 bones from at least 64 woolly mammoths. DNA analysis revealed a predominance of female mammoths (57%), with males accounting for 43%. The age distribution suggests that the bones were collected from natural accumulations rather than hunted en masse.
World's Oldest Arrow Poison Found in Ancient Bone From 7,000 Years Ago β In 1983, archaeologists excavating Kruger Cave in South Africa's western Magaliesberg mountains discovered a 7,000-year-old antelope femur containing three modified bone arrowheads. Recent analyses revealed that the marrow cavity was filled with a complex poison mixture, including toxic compounds such as digitoxin and strophanthidin, derived from various plant sources. This finding represents the oldest confirmed use of a multi-component arrow poison, highlighting the advanced cognitive abilities and pharmacological knowledge of early humans in the region.
Thatβs it for the free Top 5! If youβre a free subscriber, sign up for the paid plan for another 17 discoveries and 5 recommended pieces of content covering hand axes, King Harold, locks, and a heist.
Until next time, thanks for joining me!
-James
Twitter: @jamesofthedrum
P.S. Hereβs my Buy Me A Coffee link if youβd like to support my efforts with a donation.
P.P.S. If you want access to the paid version but itβs a little too steep for you right now, just email me β I want this to be accessible.
P.P.P.S. Paid members, read on!
π Ancient News: Deep Dive
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Ancient Beat to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.