Comments on: Challenging Previous Theories on the Origins of Urbanization http://anthropology.net/2007/09/03/challenging-previous-theories-on-the-origins-of-urbanization/ Beyond bones & stones Fri, 23 Jul 2010 08:22:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: 5,800 year old mass graves from Tell Brak, Syria « Anthropology.net http://anthropology.net/2007/09/03/challenging-previous-theories-on-the-origins-of-urbanization/#comment-3833 5,800 year old mass graves from Tell Brak, Syria « Anthropology.net Mon, 10 Sep 2007 03:12:41 +0000 http://anthropology.net/2007/09/03/challenging-previous-theories-on-the-origins-of-urbanization/#comment-3833 [...] year old mass graves from Tell Brak, Syria Jump to Comments More from Tell Brak, but this time evidence of a bloody massacre. As of right now the remains of 60 individuals have [...] [...] year old mass graves from Tell Brak, Syria Jump to Comments More from Tell Brak, but this time evidence of a bloody massacre. As of right now the remains of 60 individuals have [...]

]]> By: Anthropology.net http://anthropology.net/2007/09/03/challenging-previous-theories-on-the-origins-of-urbanization/#comment-3589 Anthropology.net Wed, 05 Sep 2007 05:42:01 +0000 http://anthropology.net/2007/09/03/challenging-previous-theories-on-the-origins-of-urbanization/#comment-3589 <strong>A New Study of Pig DNA Clarifies Farming Pre-History</strong> While we are on the subject of animal domestication and the agricultural revolution and urbanization in the Near East, I wanna share with you news that the first domesticated pigs in Europe were introduced from the Middle East by Stone Age farmers, as ... A New Study of Pig DNA Clarifies Farming Pre-History

While we are on the subject of animal domestication and the agricultural revolution and urbanization in the Near East, I wanna share with you news that the first domesticated pigs in Europe were introduced from the Middle East by Stone Age farmers, as …

]]> By: Back to it « blueollie http://anthropology.net/2007/09/03/challenging-previous-theories-on-the-origins-of-urbanization/#comment-3568 Back to it « blueollie Tue, 04 Sep 2007 15:03:05 +0000 http://anthropology.net/2007/09/03/challenging-previous-theories-on-the-origins-of-urbanization/#comment-3568 [...] on evolution: urbanization came from small communities merging, and drought conditions in prehistoric Africa drove human [...] [...] on evolution: urbanization came from small communities merging, and drought conditions in prehistoric Africa drove human [...]

]]> By: Beth Kelley http://anthropology.net/2007/09/03/challenging-previous-theories-on-the-origins-of-urbanization/#comment-3551 Beth Kelley Tue, 04 Sep 2007 05:45:38 +0000 http://anthropology.net/2007/09/03/challenging-previous-theories-on-the-origins-of-urbanization/#comment-3551 First, I just want to say the study's underlying findings are fascinating and intriguing and I hope to see follow up on this. However, I take issue with the concept that 8,000 years ago humans did not possess the ability to live in large societies, merely because the groups immigrating into Tell Brak developed separated clusters around the city. We see this same phenomenon, to some extent, in many third world cities today with immigrants coming into the city, and to a slight degree in first world countries with different neighborhoods of all one ethnic group living together. While I concur the ability to live close together in large groups is a very human-specific ability that we had to evolve over thousands of years, I don't think 8000 years gives us enough time to develop this capability, although I would totally buy that it wasn't as refined back then as it is today. First, I just want to say the study’s underlying findings are fascinating and intriguing and I hope to see follow up on this.

However, I take issue with the concept that 8,000 years ago humans did not possess the ability to live in large societies, merely because the groups immigrating into Tell Brak developed separated clusters around the city. We see this same phenomenon, to some extent, in many third world cities today with immigrants coming into the city, and to a slight degree in first world countries with different neighborhoods of all one ethnic group living together.

While I concur the ability to live close together in large groups is a very human-specific ability that we had to evolve over thousands of years, I don’t think 8000 years gives us enough time to develop this capability, although I would totally buy that it wasn’t as refined back then as it is today.

]]>