5 1o5yg 000-Year-Old Relics Discovered in Iraq Suggest a Mysterious Early Government Collapse

Archaeological finds in Iraq highlight how early Mesopotamian societies managed labour and resources 404y3i

Written by Gadgets 360 Staff | Updated: 4 December 2024 17:00 IST

5,000-Year-Old Relics Discovered in Iraq Suggest a Mysterious Early Government Collapse

Photo Credit: Antiquity/doi.org/10.15184/aqy.2024.189 1g472g

Excavations at the Shakhi Kora archaeological site in northeastern Iraq have revealed

Highlights

5,000-year-old bowls suggest early governance in ancient Mesopotamia
Shakhi Kora site reveals labour managed through food distribution
Findings challenge the inevitability of centralised power

ment

Archaeologists have unearthed 5,000-year-old clay bowls at the Shakhi Kora site in northeastern Iraq, which could signify one of the earliest forms of government organisation, according to a study published in Antiquity. The site, located southwest of Kalar in the Kurdistan region, dates to the fifth millennium B.C. Researchers have suggested these bowls might have been used to distribute food, such as meat stews, in exchange for labour — a practice potentially tied to centralised authority during the Uruk period in Mesopotamia.

Evidence of Centralised Labour 4f2k3c

The University of Glasgow, points to early experiments with hierarchical structures. Dr. Glatz, who has directed excavations at Shakhi Kora since 2019, said in a statement that institutional buildings found at the site featured southern Mesopotamian influences, including pillars and drainage systems. Beveled-rim bowls, commonly associated with the Uruk civilisation, were abundant and likely served meals to workers. Analysis of residues confirmed the presence of meat, indicating animal husbandry was integral to the settlement's economy.

Abandonment Without Conflict 3y61

The site was abandoned by the late fourth millennium B.C. without evidence of violence or environmental catastrophe, according to researchers. It is believed the local population rejected centralised governance, opting to return to subsistence farming. Dr. Glatz noted this provides insight into how early communities resisted hierarchical control.

New 3D Fossil Scans Reveal When Humans Started Walking on Two Feet

Perspectives from Other Experts 4c28k

Although not directly part of the study, Dr. Susan Pollock of the Free University of Berlin, ce, highlighted the unusual lack of urbanisation in the region, suggesting a preference for decentralised living. Meanwhile, Dr. Glenn Schwartz from Johns Hopkins University remarked on the discovery of beveled-rim bowls across Mesopotamia, calling the findings about their contents an exciting revelation.

This study offers a glimpse into the complexities of early societal structures, raising questions about the acceptance and rejection of central authority in ancient times.

Comments

For the latest reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.