A SCENARIO FOR THE BIRTH OF CIVILIZATION About 12000 years ago, climatic shifts created open woodlands with nuts that could be harvested and grasses that had the potential to be manipulated and eventually domesticated - dependent upon human influence. Warmer winters would have made year-round settlement in lower areas where grasses grew in abundance possible. Technology toward plant processing equipment such as sickle blades and grinding stones were adopted. At this time, permanent settled hamlets and villages began to spread as well paving the way for the emergence of agriculture. The earliest settlements were found in the Levant and the western foothills of the Zagros Mountains in Turkey. Wild wheat and barley grew particularly well in these regions. By 9000 years ago people in these regions subsisted on a variety of plants and nuts. These increasingly became more important in the diet and the dependence upon these resources was well established. The transitional phase during which people lived in small yet settled villages is considered to the Natufian Culture. Villages with circular, stone-walled structures with increasing populations were typical. Circular houses and circular arrangements of houses can indicate an egalitarian society. Kent Flannery has addressed the significance of circular architecture in contrast to rectangular types of buildings. Yet, some of the latest and largest Natufian sites and cemeteries contained considerable evidence for the emergence of hierarchical structures. Seashells, obsidian and stone bowls were apparently part of an emerging trade system in the region as well. By 7600 B.C. to 6000 B.C. sites with evidence of horticulture were present in an ever expanding geographic range. Sites such as Mureybet and Tell Abu Hureyra as well as Jericho can be thought of as the earliest known truly agricultural villages. The remains of domesticated einkorn wheat at Mureybet are of particular note. Hunting of animals such as gazelles was still important at sites such as Abu Hureyra until 6500 B.C. when people there began to herd sheep and goats and rely heavily upon cereal crops. The earliest farming community in the Zagros Mountains was Jarmo in northeastern Iraq. Barley, wheat and several large-seeded annual legumes were cultivated and sheep and goats were herded. Dating at Jarmo is problematic but it appears to be relatively around the same time as that for the previous two sites. Agriculture is also evidenced in the area of Khuzistan at a site known as Ali Kosh. This villages was occupied between 7200 B.C. and 6400 B.C. These was evidence that winter-grown wheat and barley were exploited. Ali Kosh supported about 100 people so represents a small village. Pottery has been found at Ali Kosh dating to the period between 6000 B.C. and 5500 B.C. A more substantial type village type can be identified at Cayonu and Catal Huyuk in Turkey (Anatolia). Cayonu was occupied from about 7250 B.C. to 6700 B.C. and consisted mainly of residential buildings in rectangular plan. At least three of the room were larger and are suggestive of public functions rather than purely residential use. Catal Huyuk is clearly much larger and may have supported a population in excess of 4000 people. It was flourishing by 6000 B.C. and consisted on a honeycomb maze of mud brick houses. Most of these were of a standard size while others were much larger. Catal Huyuk was arranged as a series of house clusters, each with its own plaza or court (courts). Of particular interest are groups of rooms that were significantly distinct from residential structures. These shrines were associated with storerooms and elaborate murals and wall decorations. Black and red coloration was found throughout the site. There may be as many as 40 such shrines within the Catal Huyuk complex. The crafting of specialized artifacts illustrate an emerging economic system within Catal Huyuk. Many of the raw materials found at the site had to be brought in from distant sources. Obsidian, which was locally available in large quantities, seems to have been an important mechanism to establish trade relationships outward from Catal Huyuk. Following 6000 B.C. a cultural phase known as the Hassunan emerged. This phenomenon was represented by a distinct style of pottery and an assemblage of stone tools. With the elaboration of pottery styles, a new phase is recognized by 5600 B.C., the Samarran. It is at this time that stamp seals can be found. Stamp seals suggest private ownership. It is clear that craft specialists also are emerging as a well established part of Samarran lifeways. Shortly thereafter, a new phase known as the Halafian became more widespread. Construction techniques improved in buildings and cobbled streets between houses were constructed. Between 5000 B.C. and 3750 B.C. the first cities emerged in the southern plains of Mesopotamia. Sites such as Ubaid and Eridu were followed by Ur-of-the-Chaldees and Sumer. The need for some form of centralized control must have been present as population dynamics changed. There was increased urbanization and concentration of wealth based on a mercantile trade during this period. Urbanization continued as a theme as the first true cities of Ur and Sumer arose along the banks of the Euphrates River. A real cultural explosion had brought us to the point of civilization where people sought to live together in larger and larger numbers with a measure of happiness.
Posted on: Sun, 29 Sep 2013 17:55:51 +0000
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