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Fri 16 Dec, 2005 12:58 pm
Quote:In the ruins of an ancient city in northeastern Syria, archaeologists have uncovered what they say is substantial evidence of a fierce battle fought there in about 3500 B.C.
University of Chicago
Archaeologists found 120 clay balls at Tell Hamoukar that were meant to be fired from slings, as well as 1,200 smaller "bullets."
The archaeologists, who announced the find yesterday, described it as the oldest known excavated site of large-scale organized warfare. It was a clash of northern and southern cultures in ancient Mesopotamia, the land where urban civilization began, in a region that includes Iraq and parts of Syria.
The discovery was reported by Clemens Reichel of the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago, who was co-director of the Syrian-American excavations at the site, known as Tell Hamoukar. The ruins are in the upper fringes of the Tigris and Euphrates Valleys, near the Iraq border and within sight of the Taurus Mountains of southern Turkey.
"The whole area of our most recent excavation was a war zone," Dr. Reichel said in the announcement, made jointly by the University of Chicago and the Department of Antiquities in Syria
Full article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/16/international/middleeast/16battle.html?8hpib
Kinda makes you wonder what it might be like 5,500 years from now, doesn't it?
I love cool finds like that.
Yeah, I hope there is something to excavate 5500 years from now.
squinney wrote:I love cool finds like that.
Yeah, I hope there is something to excavate 5500 years from now.
Oh, there will be; disposable diapers.
Quote:Archaeologists found 120 clay balls at Tell Hamoukar that were meant to be fired from slings, as well as 1,200 smaller "bullets."
The other explanation could be it was the first international marbles tournament. 120 shooters and 1200 smaller marbles.
timberlandko wrote:squinney wrote:I love cool finds like that.
Yeah, I hope there is something to excavate 5500 years from now.
Oh, there will be; disposable diapers.
Leaving the future excavators to conclude that our generation was full of ****.
Isn't it ironic!? They were warring in 3500BC, and we're warring there in 2005. Makes you think about our chances at "stabilizing" the mideast, doesn't it!
That is what I was thinking, Stevepax.
In the year 7505 will they be digging and go "Oh my gosh! A battlefield!"
Will we all be back to throwing rocks at each other or will our current weapons seem rather quaint?
It is an amazing discovery. To think that civilization and war have existed in that area for sooooo long.
I mean, just think about these people in the 76th century digging up knucklehead war artifacts that 21st century people thought would solve something.....
boomerang wrote:That is what I was thinking, Stevepax.
In the year 7505 will they be digging and go "Oh my gosh! A battlefield!"
Will we all be back to throwing rocks at each other or will our current weapons seem rather quaint?
It is an amazing discovery. To think that civilization and war have existed in that area for sooooo long.
I mean, just think about these people in the 76th century digging up knucklehead war artifacts that 21st century people thought would solve something.....
I've always been enamoured with archeology and history. It's probably my favorite thing aside from JayBea and computers.
I didn't know that was you!
Hello!
I figured you would catch that! Nice to see you!
Nice to see you too!
I hope all is well and that JayBea is doing good.
Did you ever make those location changes you dreamed of?
Boomer, do you have my e-mail?
talk72000 wrote:Rendezvous?
I've always had the hots for Boomer!