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Large and Small Bullets |
The devastated ruins of a 5,500-year-old fortress located at what is now the border of Syria and Iraq have provided the oldest evidence of an organized bloody war.
The settlement in the Mesopotamia region, located in Hamoukar, at the northernmost tip of Syria, is situated 8 km from Iraq. In 3,500 BC, this 13-hectare area endured a horrific attack, with buildings collapsing one after another under the onslaught of large and small bullets.
Evidence of this destruction was uncovered in October and November 2005 by researchers from the University of Chicago and the Syrian Archaeological Institute.
In earlier excavations, archaeologists had found severely damaged structures due to fire. The most recent visit revealed 1,200 oval clay bullets measuring 2.5 cm in diameter and 4 cm in length. It also uncovered 120 heavier clay projectiles measuring 5×10 cm.
The initial team mistook the larger bullets for kettles, but both the large and small projectiles showed scratches and dents from being thrust into buildings.
Scientists also conducted experiments confirming that the bullets were fired from devices similar to slingshots. The smaller bullets were deformed due to impact, indicating they were produced during the conflict and were still soft.
“The entire area we excavated was once a fierce battlefield. It is clear that this was not a small encounter but a ‘shock and awe’ campaign in the 4th millennium BC“, remarked Clemens Reichel from the University of Chicago.
During this period, many large settlements were established in southern Hamoukar, in the Euphrates Valley in central Iraq. There is evidence that these people migrated north, forming communities and bringing with them Uruk cultural artifacts.
However, excavations at Hamoukar between 1999 and 2001 indicated that the first settlement existed before the Uruk migration. Yet, immediately after this city was destroyed, Uruk artifacts and constructions became prevalent in the area.
“It seems that those living in the south played a role in the city’s destruction. They occupied the area right after the destruction. This is the first evidence showing that the Uruk people were involved in armed conflict during their northward advance“, Reichel stated.
Alexandra Fletcher from the British Museum noted that the discovery in Hamoukar adds new details to the early civilization narrative in the region. “This is an exciting period. It marks the beginning of large cities and elements related to modern life, including warfare“.
