Bloody war in Mesopotamia ancient city

Big and small bullets

The ruined ruins of a 5.500-year-old stronghold at the border of Syria and Iraq today provide the most ancient evidence of an organized bloody war.

Mesopotamia settlement is located in Hamoukar, the top of Syria's north end, 8 km from Iraq. In 3,500 BC, this 13-hectare area suffered a devastating attack, in which buildings collapsed under the massive attacks of small and large sized bullets.

Evidence of this devastation was discovered in October and November 2005 by researchers at the University of Chicago, the United States and the Syrian Classical Institute.

In previous excavations, archaeologists found buildings severely destroyed by fires. The latest visit revealed 1,200 oval terracotta bullets 2.5 cm in diameter and 4 cm long. It also revealed 120 heavier earths with dimensions of 5x10 cm.

The original group mistakenly thought big bullets were warms, but both big and small pellets had scratches and subsidence due to being stabbed into buildings.

The scientists also performed experiments that confirmed bullets fired by equipment similar to slingshot. Smaller bullets were deformed due to impact, indicating they were produced in the war and still soft.

" The entire area we excavated was once a fierce battlefield. It was clearly not a small clash but a 'shocking and horrifying' campaign in the 4th millennium BC " , Clemens Reichel of the University of Chicago said.

At this stage, many large settlements were established in Southern Hamoukar, in the Euphrates valley in central Iraq. There is evidence that these people migrated to the North, formed communities and brought Uruk cultural creatures.

But excavations at Hamoukar between 1999 and 2001 show that the first settlement was preceded by the Uruk migration. However, as soon as the city was destroyed, Uruk's creatures and structures became popular in the area.

" It seems that people in the South played a role in the destruction of the city. They occupied the area immediately after the destruction. It was the first evidence that the Uruk people participated in armed wars. on his North Road, "Reichel said.

Alexandra Fletcher, at the British Museum identified in Hamoukar, added fresh details about the early civilization painting in the area. " It was an exciting period. It was the beginning of big cities and things related to modern life, including war ."