Archaeologists in the Navkur plain near Rovia, Iraqi Kurdistan, have unearthed remarkable evidence of early human innovation and societal transformation. Led by the University of Udine in collaboration with the Directorate of Antiquities of Dohuk, the research team uncovered groundbreaking finds at the Asingeran and Kanispan sites. These discoveries shed new light on the lives of some of the earliest agricultural communities.
8,000-Year-Old Pottery and Farming Techniques Uncovered
Researchers discovered traces of early pottery-making and cultivated cereals at the Neolithic site of Kanispan, which dates back to the 7th millennium BC. These findings, over 8,000 years old, offer an unprecedented glimpse into how prehistoric societies adapted their environment for survival. The production of ceramics and the manipulation of crops represent a significant leap in human subsistence practices, marking an era when agriculture began shaping human development.
Not far from Kanispan lies the Asingeran site, home to two monumental structures: the Rectangular Brick Building and the White Building. Constructed between 6,000 and 7,000 years ago, these edifices likely housed local elites, offering early evidence of emerging social hierarchies. Situated on a hill, their strategic placement hints at a shift from egalitarian communities to societies with defined roles and power structures.
The Asingeran Excavation Project aims to uncover how these agricultural communities transitioned into more complex social systems. By examining labor specialization and the rise of leadership, researchers hope to piece together the puzzle of societal evolution.
Advanced Analysis to Decode the Past
The findings are undergoing detailed analysis at specialized laboratories. Ceramic studies, paleobotanical examinations, and DNA analysis—conducted with the help of the universities of Bologna, Padua, and the National Museum of Denmark—will reconstruct the agricultural practices and social organization of the region’s earliest inhabitants.
The Asingeran site, identified in 2013 during the PARTeN project, offers a rare opportunity to study the Upper Eastern Tigris region’s transformation over millennia. It reveals a settlement history spanning the Ceramic Neolithic to the early 3rd millennium BC, with reoccupation during the Ottoman era (1500–1800 CE). This timeline includes everything from ancient monumental structures to humble stone houses and hearths.
Professor Marco Iamoni, director of the project and a renowned expert in Eastern Mediterranean and Western Asian archaeology, highlights the significance of these findings. “The early evidence of ceramic production and cereal cultivation at Kanispan is a landmark in prehistoric archaeology. Meanwhile, the monumental buildings at Asingeran point to complex social structures at an astonishingly early stage.”
These discoveries are rewriting our understanding of how ancient societies evolved, demonstrating the intricate processes that led to modern civilizations. As further studies continue, the Navkur Plain is set to reveal even more about the ingenuity and adaptability of our distant ancestors.
Join the Conversation!
Have something to share or discuss? Connect with us on Facebook and join like-minded explorers in our Telegram group. For the latest discoveries and insights, make sure to follow us on Google News.
