Home Region: Eastern South Asia (South Asia)

Early A'chik

1775 CE 1867 CE

D G SC WF R

EQ 2020 in_achik_1 / InGaroE

Preceding Entity: Add one more here.

[elite migration; A’chik Tribes] [elite replacement] Update here

Succeeding Entity:

No Polity found. Add one here.

General Description

The Garo Hills, located in Meghalaya in northeast India, have long been inhabited by the A’chik. The term ’Garo’ is of unclear origin, but is believed to have originated with the neighbouring Boro people. ^[1] The Garo people refer to themselves as the A’chik (’hill’) or A’chik Manderang (’hill people’). ^[2]
It is unknown precisely when the A’chik settled in their present location, but it is believed that they migrated to the hills from Tibet. ^[3] The A’chik had little contact with their neighbours before 1775, when local zamindars (Indian land-owning nobility) led expeditions into the Garo Hills. ^[3]
1788 saw the first contact with the British, who began to occupy the district in 1867. ^[3] Despite their initial resistance, the A’chik were overmatched by British firearms, and the British established full administrative control of the region around 1873. ^[4] The region remained a part of British India until Indian independence in 1947.
Population and political organization
During the precolonial period, the A’chik lacked elaborate political organization. The most important social unit was the matrilineal clan, the machong. ^[5] The chief (nokma) had relatively little power beyond religious functions and resolving minor disputes under the guidance of the village elders. ^[6]
Once the region was under British control, executive offices were simply superimposed onto A’chik structures. The British created the office of laskar, with limited power over about ten villages. ^[7] The A’chik were still left to settle their own disputes through the nokma, but they gained the right to appeal the nokma’s decisions to the court of laskars. ^[7]
Population estimates are unavailable for the precolonial period. The British colonial official and statistician W. W. Hunter estimated that the population of the Garo Hills was 80,000 in 1872. ^[8]

[1]: (Sangma 1995, 37) Sangma, Mihir N., and Milton S. Sangma. 1995. “The Garos: The Name, Meanings, and Its Origin.” In Hill Societies, Their Modernisation: A Study of North East with Special Reference to Garo Hills, 32-41. New Delhi: Omsons Publications. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/M5IS3SBN.

[2]: (Sangma 1995, 33) Sangma, Mihir N., and Milton S. Sangma. 1995. “The Garos: The Name, Meanings, and Its Origin.” In Hill Societies, Their Modernisation: A Study of North East with Special Reference to Garo Hills, 32-41. New Delhi: Omsons Publications. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/M5IS3SBN.

[3]: (Roy 1999, 2) Roy, Sankar Kumar. 1999. “Culture Summary: Garo.” eHRAF World Cultures. http://ehrafworldcultures.yale.edu/document?id=ar05-000. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/TXQNUE8P.

[4]: (Majumdar 1978, 30) Majumdar, Dhirendra Narayan. 1978. Culture Change in Two Garo Villages. Calcutta: Anthropological Survey of India, Govt. of India. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/TZXMWMN5.

[5]: (Roy 1999, 6) Roy, Sankar Kumar. 1999. “Culture Summary: Garo.” eHRAF World Cultures. http://ehrafworldcultures.yale.edu/document?id=ar05-000. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/TXQNUE8P.

[6]: (Majumdar 1978, 22) Majumdar, Dhirendra Narayan. 1978. Culture Change in Two Garo Villages. Calcutta: Anthropological Survey of India, Govt. of India. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/TZXMWMN5.

[7]: (Marak 1997, 52) Marak, Kumie R. 1997. Traditions and Modernity in Matrilineal Tribal Society. New Delhi: Inter-India Publications. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/CS3PXEIH.

[8]: (Kar 1995, 54) Kar, Biman. 1995. “Changing A’chik-Mande: Need for Further Research.” In Hill Societies, Their Modernisation: A Study of North East with Special Reference to Garo Hills, edited by Milton S. Sangma, 52-58. New Delhi: Omsons Publications. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/W7PJ27C6.

General Variables

Identity and Location

1 Utm Zone

2 Original Name

1 Capital

2 Alternative Name

Temporal Bounds

1 Duration

Political and Cultural Relations

1 Suprapolity Relations

1 Supracultural Entity

1 Succeeding Entity

1 Scale of Supracultural Interaction

1 Relationship to preceding Entity

1 Polity Succession

1 Degree of Centralization

Language

1 Linguistic Family

1 Language

Religion

Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale

1 Population of the Largest Settlement

1 Polity Territory

1 Polity Population

1 Largest Communication Distance

Hierarchical Complexity

1 Settlement Hierarchy

1 Religious Level

1 Military Level

1 Administrative Level

Professions

1 Professional Soldier

1 Professional Priesthood

1 Professional Military Officer

Bureaucracy Characteristics

1 Specialized Government Building

1 Merit Promotion

1 Full Time Bureaucrat

1 Examination System

Law

1 Professional Lawyer

1 Judge

1 Formal Legal Code

1 Court

Specialized Buildings: polity owned

1 Market

1 Irrigation System

1 Food Storage Site

1 Drinking Water Supply System

Transport Infrastructure

1 Road

1 Port

1 Canal

1 Bridge

Special-purpose Sites

1 Mines or Quarry

Information / Writing System

1 Written Record

1 Script

1 Phonetic Alphabetic Writing

1 Nonwritten Record

1 Mnemonic Device

Information / Kinds of Written Documents

1 Scientific Literature

1 Sacred Text

1 Religious Literature

1 Practical Literature

1 Philosophy

1 Lists Tables and Classification

1 History

1 Fiction

1 Calendar

Information / Money

1 Token

1 Precious Metal

1 Paper Currency

1 Indigenous Coin

1 Foreign Coin

1 Article

Information / Postal System

1 Postal Station

1 General Postal Service

1 Courier

Information / Measurement System

Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)

Fortifications

1 Wooden Palisade

1 Stone Walls Non Mortared

1 Stone Walls Mortared

1 Settlements in a Defensive Position

1 Modern Fortification

1 Moat

1 Fortified Camp

1 Earth Rampart

1 Ditch

1 Complex Fortification

1 Long Wall

Military use of Metals

1 Steel

1 Iron

1 Copper

1 Bronze

Projectiles

1 Tension Siege Engine

1 Sling Siege Engine

1 Sling

1 Self Bow

1 Javelin

1 Handheld Firearm

1 Gunpowder Siege Artillery

1 Crossbow

1 Composite Bow

1 Atlatl

Handheld weapons

1 War Club

1 Sword

1 Spear

1 Polearm

1 Dagger

1 Battle Axe

Animals used in warfare

1 Horse

1 Elephant

1 Donkey

1 Dog

1 Camel

Armor

1 Wood Bark Etc

1 Shield

1 Scaled Armor

1 Plate Armor

1 Limb Protection

1 Leather Cloth

1 Laminar Armor

1 Helmet

1 Chainmail

1 Breastplate

Naval technology

1 Specialized Military Vessel

1 Small Vessels Canoes Etc

1 Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service

Economy Variables (Luxury Goods) Coding in Progress.

Religion Variables Coding in Progress.

Crisis Consequence Cases Coding in Progress.

Power Transitions Coding in Progress.

Instability Events Coding in Progress.

NGA Settlements:

Year Range	Early A'chik (in_achik_1) was in:
(1775 CE 1867 CE)	Garo Hills

Home NGA: Garo Hills

General Variables

Identity and Location Early A'chik (in_achik_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Utm Zone	46 R	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Original Name	Achik	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Original Name	Mande	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Capital	None (Absent Capital)	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Alternative Name	Mande	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Alternative Name	Early Garo	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Temporal Bounds Early A'chik (in_achik_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More
Duration	[1775 CE ➜ 1867 CE]
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Political and Cultural Relations Early A'chik (in_achik_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Suprapolity Relations	unknown [---] Suspected	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Supracultural Entity	South Asia	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Succeeding Entity	British Colonial India	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Scale of Supracultural Interaction	4,771,577 km²	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity	elite migration	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Preceding Entity	elite migration; A’chik Tribes [elite replacement] Update here
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Degree of Centralization	quasi-polity	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Language Early A'chik (in_achik_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Linguistic Family	Sino-Tibetan	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Language	A’chik	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Religion Early A'chik (in_achik_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More

Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale Early A'chik (in_achik_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Population of the Largest Settlement	[2,000 to 3,000] people	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Polity Territory	- Suspected	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Polity Population	[2,000 to 3,000] people	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Largest Communication Distance	- Undecided	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Hierarchical Complexity Early A'chik (in_achik_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Settlement Hierarchy	2	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Religious Level	1	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Military Level	2	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Administrative Level	1	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Professions Early A'chik (in_achik_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Soldier	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Professional Priesthood	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Professional Military Officer	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Early A'chik (in_achik_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Government Building	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Merit Promotion	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Full Time Bureaucrat	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Examination System	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Law Early A'chik (in_achik_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Lawyer	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Judge	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Formal Legal Code	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Court	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned Early A'chik (in_achik_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Market	Absent Inferred	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Irrigation System	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Food Storage Site	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Drinking Water Supply System	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Transport Infrastructure Early A'chik (in_achik_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Road	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Port	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Canal	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Bridge	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Special-purpose Sites Early A'chik (in_achik_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Mines or Quarry	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Information / Writing System Early A'chik (in_achik_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Written Record	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Script	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Nonwritten Record	Present	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Mnemonic Device	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Early A'chik (in_achik_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Scientific Literature	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Sacred Text	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Religious Literature	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Practical Literature	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Philosophy	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Lists Tables and Classification	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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History	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Fiction	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Calendar	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Information / Money Early A'chik (in_achik_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Token	Unknown Suspected	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Precious Metal	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Paper Currency	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Indigenous Coin	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Foreign Coin	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Article	Present	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Information / Postal System Early A'chik (in_achik_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Postal Station	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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General Postal Service	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Courier	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Information / Measurement System Early A'chik (in_achik_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More

Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)

Fortifications Early A'chik (in_achik_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wooden Palisade	Present	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Stone Walls Mortared	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position	Present	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Modern Fortification	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Moat	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Fortified Camp	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Earth Rampart	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Ditch	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Complex Fortification	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Long Wall	absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Military use of Metals Early A'chik (in_achik_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Steel	Absent Inferred	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Iron	Present	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Copper	Unknown Suspected	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Bronze	Unknown Suspected	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Projectiles Early A'chik (in_achik_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Tension Siege Engine	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Sling Siege Engine	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Sling	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Self Bow	Present Inferred	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Javelin	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Handheld Firearm	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Crossbow	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Composite Bow	Absent Inferred	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Atlatl	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Handheld weapons Early A'chik (in_achik_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
War Club	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Sword	Present	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Spear	Present	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Polearm	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Dagger	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Battle Axe	Present	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Animals used in warfare Early A'chik (in_achik_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Horse	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Elephant	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Donkey	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Dog	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Camel	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Armor Early A'chik (in_achik_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wood Bark Etc	Present	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Shield	Present	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Scaled Armor	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Plate Armor	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Limb Protection	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Leather Cloth	Present	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Laminar Armor	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Helmet	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Chainmail	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Breastplate	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Naval technology Early A'chik (in_achik_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Military Vessel	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Small Vessels Canoes Etc	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service	Absent	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)

Religion Variables

Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Early A'chik (in_achik_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad	Absent Inferred	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary	Absent Inferred	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic	Absent Inferred	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life	Absent Inferred	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward	Absent Inferred	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners	Absent Inferred	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted	Absent Inferred	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife	Absent Inferred	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites	Absent Inferred	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers	Absent Inferred	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain	Absent Inferred	1775 CE 1867 CE
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Human Sacrifice Early A'chik (in_achik_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More