Home Region:  Anatolia-Caucasus (Southwest Asia)

Konya Plain - Early Bronze Age

3000 BCE 2000 BCE
D G SC WF R
EQ 2020  tr_konya_eba / TrBrzER
Preceding Entity: Add one more here.
5500 BCE 3000 BCE Konya Plain - Late Chalcolithic (tr_konya_lca)    [population replacement]

Succeeding Entity:
No Polity found. Add one here.


  General Description  
The Early Bronze Age period in Anatolia is complicated and complex topic. This period begins with controversy, because the transition from Late Chalcolithic to Early Bronze Age is not clear. Some scholars argue that beginning of Early Bronze age should be dated to around 3000 BCE.

This is clearly visible at the monumental graves, known as Royal Tombs at Alaca Höyük site. These tombs yielded over 700 items that we can grouped into 12 typological categories. A multiplicity of materials were used in those grave goods - from metals (copper, bronze, silver, gold, electrum, iron, lead, haematite), stones (carnelian, rock crystal, chalcedony, flint, lapis lazuli), frit, faience, pottery, to bone and textiles. The most spectacular findings were anthropomorphic figurines, which were made by the combination more than one metal in a single object. In these Royal Tombs we can find also remains of ceremonial funerary feasts. Some animals were slaughtered, the oxen being the most common.
Many sites of this period were well fortified. Proof of wooden palisades and stone walls was found in Karataş-Semayük, and just stone walls in for example Taurus and Demircihöyük. At Alişar Hüyük, complex fortifications were excavated - a well constructed stronghold wall, and 10 meters of fortification on the terrace. One of these walls was set behind the other, and onto it rectangular-shaped bastions were constructed. A lot of handheld weapons were also found in Central Anatolia Plateau, for example: swords, daggers, pikes, halberds, spears, battle axes and warclubs. At the Demircihöyük and Karataş-Semayük sites, there were extramural Early Bronze Age cemeteries - altogether there were about 900 pithoi burials, and the majority of bodies was facing Southeast.
The pottery of Anatolian Early Bronze Age was distinctive by red monochrome wares. In terms of animal remains, it can be concluded that Sheep and goats were most dominant (at Acemhöyük), representing 63-68 percent of the faunal remains, followed by cattle and pigs.


Wood or rather wooden planks were used in Royal Tombs at Alaca Höyük. "The burials consisted of a rectangular pit roofed with wooden planks." [1]
Flint/Obsidian present [2] [1]
Building stone present Building stone was used e.g. in Royal Tombs at Alaca Höyük. "The lower parts of these shafts consisted of rectangular stone-lined pits in wchich a single person was normally buried" [3] "The most numerous examples of the megaron plan are found in the Early Bronze Age village at Karataş (Troy I-II period), where stone foundations of over thirty such structures have been uncovered in recent excavations." [4]
Copper present E.g. grave goods [3]
Tin/Arsenic present Kestel [5] "The Kestel-Göltepe complex is vast. The mine itself comprises a network of eight galleries, extending in various directions. Some 4500 cubic meters of ore were extracted, often through precariously narrow tunnels, using fire and large ground stone hammers to shatter the ore. Even if the ore mined in antiquity were low grade, containing only 1 % of tin like some the nodules found in the excavations, the size of the galleries point to the produciotn of some 115 tons of tin." [6]
Iron present E.g. grave goods [3] . Iron Dagger [7]
Material to make ornaments gold, silver, carnelian, jade, rock crystal "In terms of jewellery, we should note the ability of the craftsmen to combine gold and silver with precious stones (carnelian, jade, and rock crystal), a technique especially favored for pins, and at the same time the conspicious absence of filigree and granulation." [8]
Lead present Most of all as grave goods [9]
Agropastoral with pastoral dominating Sheep and goats were the dominant component of the animal economy at Acemhöyük III and II, representing 63-68 percent of the faunal remains, followed by cattle and pigs. This is similar to the situation observed at contemporary sites on the central plateau including Kaman Kalehhöyük, Küultepe, and Çadır Höyük. [10]
Iron present Pieces of iron object found in Tomb L in Alacahöyük [11] .
Metals present [12]
Raw materials present Melian Obsidian in Beycesultan [2]
Pottery present Trojan depas vessel, two-handled tankards, wheelmade plain plates and bowls [13]
Coppersmith present [14]
Pottery present [15]
Butcher present [16]

[1]: Sagona A. and P. Zimanksy, "Ancient Turkey", USA 2009, p. 214.

[2]: Knitter D. "Concepts of Centrality and Models of Exchange in Prehistoric Western Anatolia" In: "Landscape Archaeology. Proceedings of the International Conference Held in Berlin, 6th - 8th June 2012", p. 363.

[3]: Düring B. S., "The Prehistory of Asia Minor. From Complex Hunter-Gatherers to Early Urban Societies.", Cambridge 2011, p. 291.

[4]: Warner J., "The Megaron and Apsidal House in Early Bronze Age Western Anatolia: New Evidence from Karataş", In: "American Journal of Archaeology", Vol. 83, No. 2 (Apr., 1979), p. 138.

[5]: Yener K. A., "An Early Bronze Age Tin Production Site at Göltepe, Turkey.", In: "The Oriental Institute News and Notes", Vol. 140 (1994)

[6]: Sagona A. and P. Zimansky, "Ancient Turkey", USA 2009, pp. 200-2001.

[7]: Düring B. S., "The Prehistory of Asia Minor. From Complex Hunter-Gatherers to Early Urban Societies.", Cambridge 2011, p. 292.

[8]: Sagona A. and P. Zimansky, "Ancient Turkey", USA 2009, pp. 208-209.

[9]: Sagona A. and P. Zimansky, "Ancient Turkey", USA 2009, pp. 214-217

[10]: Arbuckle B., "Pastoralism, Provisioning, and Power at Bronze Age Acemhöyük, Turkey", In: "American Anthropologist", Vol. 114 (2012), Issue 3, p. 466.

[11]: Yalçin Ü. and H. G., "Reassessing Antropomorphic Metal Figurines of Alacahöyük, Anatolia", In: "Near Eastern Archeology" Vol. 76:1 (2013), p. 41.

[12]: Efe T., "The Theories of the ’Great Caravan Route’ between Cilicia and Troy: The Early Bronze Age III Period in Inland Western Anatolia" In: "Anatolian Studies", Vol. 57, Transanatolia: Bridging the Gap between East and West inthe Archaeology of Ancient Anatolia (2007), p. 49

[13]: Ancient Anatolia, 10,000-323 B.C.E, S.R. Steadman, G.McMahon, Oxford University Press, 2011. Chapter 10

[14]: Yakar T., "Regional and Local Schools of Metalwork in Early Bronze Age Anatolia: Part I", In: "Anatolian Studies", Vol. 34 (1984), p. 75.

[15]: Sagona A. and P. Zimansky, "Ancient Turkey", USA 2009, p. 197.

[16]: Arbuckle B., "Pastoralism, Provisioning, and Power at Bronze Age Acemhöyük, Turkey", In: "American Anthropologist", Vol. 114 (2012), Issue 3, p. 468.

General Variables
Identity and Location
Temporal Bounds
Political and Cultural Relations
Language
Religion
Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale
Hierarchical Complexity
Professions
Bureaucracy Characteristics
Law
Specialized Buildings: polity owned
Transport Infrastructure
Special-purpose Sites
Information / Writing System
Information / Kinds of Written Documents
Information / Money
Information / Postal System
Information / Measurement System
Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications
Military use of Metals
Projectiles
Handheld weapons
Animals used in warfare
Armor
Naval technology
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 Konya Plain - Early Bronze Age (tr_konya_eba) was in:
 (3000 BCE 2001 BCE) Konya Plain
Home NGA: Konya Plain
General Variables
Identity and Location Konya Plain - Early Bronze Age (tr_konya_eba)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Utm Zone 36 S 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Original Name Konya Plain - Early Bronze Age 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Capital 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Alternative Name 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Alternative Name 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Alternative Name 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Temporal Bounds Konya Plain - Early Bronze Age (tr_konya_eba)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Duration
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Political and Cultural Relations Konya Plain - Early Bronze Age (tr_konya_eba)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Suprapolity Relations 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Succeeding Entity Konya Plain - Middle Bronze Age 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Preceding Entity
5500 BCE 3000 BCE
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Degree of Centralization quasi-polity 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Language Konya Plain - Early Bronze Age (tr_konya_eba)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Linguistic Family NO_VALUE_ON_WIKI 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Language 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Religion Konya Plain - Early Bronze Age (tr_konya_eba)
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Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale Konya Plain - Early Bronze Age (tr_konya_eba)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Polity Territory 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Polity Population 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Hierarchical Complexity Konya Plain - Early Bronze Age (tr_konya_eba)
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Settlement Hierarchy 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Military Level 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Administrative Level 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Professions Konya Plain - Early Bronze Age (tr_konya_eba)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Soldier 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Professional Priesthood 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Professional Military Officer 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Konya Plain - Early Bronze Age (tr_konya_eba)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Government Building 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Merit Promotion Absent Inferred 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Full Time Bureaucrat 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Examination System Absent Inferred 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Law Konya Plain - Early Bronze Age (tr_konya_eba)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Lawyer Unknown Suspected 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Judge Unknown Suspected 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Unknown Suspected 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
Court Unknown Suspected 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned Konya Plain - Early Bronze Age (tr_konya_eba)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Market 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Irrigation System 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Food Storage Site Present Inferred 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Drinking Water Supply System Absent Inferred 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Utilitarian Public Building 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Knowledge Or Information Building 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Transport Infrastructure Konya Plain - Early Bronze Age (tr_konya_eba)
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Road 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Port 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Canal 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Bridge 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Special-purpose Sites Konya Plain - Early Bronze Age (tr_konya_eba)
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Mines or Quarry 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Information / Writing System Konya Plain - Early Bronze Age (tr_konya_eba)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Written Record Absent 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Script Absent 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing Absent 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Nonwritten Record 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Non Phonetic Writing Absent 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Konya Plain - Early Bronze Age (tr_konya_eba)
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Scientific Literature Absent 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Sacred Text Absent 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Religious Literature Absent 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Practical Literature Absent 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Philosophy Absent 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Lists Tables and Classification Absent 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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History Absent 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Fiction 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Calendar Absent 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Information / Money Konya Plain - Early Bronze Age (tr_konya_eba)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Token Unknown Suspected 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Precious Metal 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Paper Currency Unknown Suspected 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Indigenous Coin Unknown Suspected 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Foreign Coin Unknown Suspected 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Article 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Store Of Wealth 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Information / Postal System Konya Plain - Early Bronze Age (tr_konya_eba)
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Postal Station Absent Inferred 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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General Postal Service Absent Inferred 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Courier 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Information / Measurement System Konya Plain - Early Bronze Age (tr_konya_eba)
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Weight Measurement System 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Volume Measurement System 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Time Measurement System 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Length Measurement System 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Area Measurement System 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications Konya Plain - Early Bronze Age (tr_konya_eba)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Wooden Palisade 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Stone Walls Mortared 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Modern Fortification 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Moat 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Fortified Camp 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Earth Rampart 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Ditch 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Complex Fortification 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Long Wall unknown Suspected 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Military use of Metals Konya Plain - Early Bronze Age (tr_konya_eba)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Steel 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Iron 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Copper 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Bronze 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Projectiles Konya Plain - Early Bronze Age (tr_konya_eba)
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Tension Siege Engine 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Sling Siege Engine 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Sling 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Self Bow 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Javelin 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Handheld Firearm 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Crossbow 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Composite Bow 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Atlatl 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Handheld weapons Konya Plain - Early Bronze Age (tr_konya_eba)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
War Club 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Sword 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Spear 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Polearm 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Dagger 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Battle Axe 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Animals used in warfare Konya Plain - Early Bronze Age (tr_konya_eba)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Horse 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Elephant 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Donkey 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Dog 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Camel 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Armor Konya Plain - Early Bronze Age (tr_konya_eba)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Wood Bark Etc 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Shield 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Scaled Armor 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Plate Armor 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Limb Protection 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Leather Cloth 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Laminar Armor 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Helmet 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Chainmail 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Breastplate 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Naval technology Konya Plain - Early Bronze Age (tr_konya_eba)
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Specialized Military Vessel 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)
Religion Variables
Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Konya Plain - Early Bronze Age (tr_konya_eba)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain 3000 BCE  2000 BCE
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Human Sacrifice Konya Plain - Early Bronze Age (tr_konya_eba)
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Crisis Cases
View all Crisis Cases
Instability Data
Power Transitions
View all Power Transitions