Origins of Agriculture Roots of civilization

Transition from systematic harvesting of wild plants to cultivation. Transition from systematic harvesting of wild plants to cultivation. Read pdf by Braidwood (1960) Read pdf by Braidwood (1960) Evidence from multiple sources: palynology, zooarchaeology, environmental archaeology, paleobotany, farming technology, food storage practices Evidence from multiple sources: palynology, zooarchaeology, environmental archaeology, paleobotany, farming technology, food storage practices

Important Cultigens from the archaeological record Einkron wheat Einkron wheat Emmer wheat Emmer wheat Barley Barley Lentils Lentils Grapes Grapes Figs Figs In the far East: rice In the far East: rice In Americas: potatoes, manioc, yams In Americas: potatoes, manioc, yams

Einkron wheat (cultivated)Emmer wheat

barley

Fertile Crescent Scene of earliest old world farming also the region of earliest urban centers and States. Scene of earliest old world farming also the region of earliest urban centers and States.

Key questions for these hypotheses Did population increases occur before or after agriculture? Did population increases occur before or after agriculture? What brought about population increases? What brought about population increases? What conditions had to exist? What conditions had to exist? Which plants were domesticated first? Which plants were domesticated first? How can we test these conjectures? How can we test these conjectures?

Major Theories Oasis hypothesis Oasis hypothesis Natural habitat hypothesis Natural habitat hypothesis Population pressures Population pressures Edge hypothesis Edge hypothesis

Oasis Hypothesis Domestication begins as a symbiotic relationship between humans, plants, and animals at oases. Domestication begins as a symbiotic relationship between humans, plants, and animals at oases. Linked to fertile river valley hypothesis Linked to fertile river valley hypothesis V. Gordon Childe the major proponent of the hypothesis.

Natural habitat Hypothesis Earliest domesticated plants found in the areas of wild ancestors. Humans inhabit zones rich in certain easily harvested plants and learn to cultivate from observation. Earliest domesticated plants found in the areas of wild ancestors. Humans inhabit zones rich in certain easily harvested plants and learn to cultivate from observation. Robert Braidwood was a strong advocate for this concept. Also tied to the fertile river valley hypothesis.

Edge Hypothesis Pressure to turn to agriculture were greatest at the edges or margins of a resource area. Pressure to turn to agriculture were greatest at the edges or margins of a resource area. Lewis Binford a proponent of this variant of population theory.

Population Pressure Hypothesis Increased populations forced people to turn to agriculture. Increased populations forced people to turn to agriculture. Robert McAdams Robert McAdams Large populations required greater food surplus and also provided labor. Labor needed to be managed leading to institutional control among priests or chiefs..

Important early sites of agriculture Natufian region Natufian region Jarmo (Robert Braidwood) Jarmo (Robert Braidwood) Jericho (Kathleen Kenyon) Jericho (Kathleen Kenyon) Mehrgarh Mehrgarh Ban-po-ts’un Ban-po-ts’un Kenyon at Jericho

Technologies of agriculture Sickles made from antler and obsidian microliths Sickles made from antler and obsidian microliths Sickle gloss evidence (micro wear analysis) Sickle gloss evidence (micro wear analysis) Grinding stones (querns, mortars, pestles) Grinding stones (querns, mortars, pestles) Storage jars Storage jars Storage pits Storage pits Granaries in architecture. Granaries in architecture.

Obsidian sickle blade studied for wear patters and trace chemical residues.

Positive Side effects Agriculture leads to sedentary populations. Agriculture leads to sedentary populations. Surplus can provide subsistence in lean times. Surplus can provide subsistence in lean times. Surpluses mean that some fraction of the population does not have to engage in food production and can specialize in other roles. Surpluses mean that some fraction of the population does not have to engage in food production and can specialize in other roles. This also gives rise to differently valued roles and social stratification. This also gives rise to differently valued roles and social stratification.

And then there was beer… htm htm

Tablet Ca. 600BC Evidence exists for brewing as far back as 3500BC. Sumerian priest drinking beer.

Negative Side Effects of Urban Life Dependencies on crop and climate stability Dependencies on crop and climate stability Must be defended. Must be defended. Larger populations require more work to feed. Larger populations require more work to feed. Large sedentary populations create lots of waste, sewage, depleat local resources, pollution… Large sedentary populations create lots of waste, sewage, depleat local resources, pollution…

Control over irrigation of water, water distribution, or surplus food production are closely linked to rise of States level societies. But did one precede the other or was it a tandem process? Control over irrigation of water, water distribution, or surplus food production are closely linked to rise of States level societies. But did one precede the other or was it a tandem process? Did control over water create system of power? Who was in charge? Chiefs? Priests? Did control over water create system of power? Who was in charge? Chiefs? Priests?

Rise to Civilization Evidence suggests that, at least in the ancient Near East, control over irrigation and water resources was fundamental to the rise of powerful city-states. Evidence suggests that, at least in the ancient Near East, control over irrigation and water resources was fundamental to the rise of powerful city-states.

State Level Organization States can be defined as independent, self-sustaining kingdoms. Each has institutionalized political autonomy, religion, economy, and military.

States States have rank divisions, institutionalized government and hierarchical power structures, standing armies (political authorities have monopoly on military) urban living, division of labor with craft specialization, codified laws, control over resources, social stratification, monumental architecture, and frequently a powerful stratified religious authority. States have rank divisions, institutionalized government and hierarchical power structures, standing armies (political authorities have monopoly on military) urban living, division of labor with craft specialization, codified laws, control over resources, social stratification, monumental architecture, and frequently a powerful stratified religious authority.

Mesopotamia Region having first concentrated urban centers. Region having first concentrated urban centers. Austen Henry Layard (1860 ?) Early explorer of Mesopotamia.

State library of Nineveh discovered by Austen Henry Layard in Among the finds, the tablets telling the epic story of Gilgamesh. First decipherment s available after Gilgamesh epic is part history and part mythical allegory (See Bertman pgs ). Gilgamesh was the fifth King of Uruk “of the strong walls” following the great flood ca BC.

Base Assignments Learn the locations of Nineveh, Kish, Uruk, Al-Ubaid, Eridu, and Ur. Learn the locations of Nineveh, Kish, Uruk, Al-Ubaid, Eridu, and Ur. Which of these cities is believed to be oldest? Which of these cities is believed to be oldest? Who are Enlil, Ishtar, Marduk, and Enkidu? Who are Enlil, Ishtar, Marduk, and Enkidu?