City older than Mohenjodaro unearthed.

January 16, 2002 6:07 AM

City older than Mohenjodaro unearthed. This subject has always fascinated me, what is the world's oldest city/civilization? I remember learning in school the standard-tigris and euphrates river valley in Iraq version. But since I left school there seems to have been an ongoing search with multiple claims, here are a few links to newer claims, hamoukar, mohenjodaro, harappa, details of hamoukar, by the archaeologist. Does anyone have any insights, links are welcome, and what in your opinion is the oldest city/civilization in the world.
posted by bittennails (15 comments total)

More detail on this current find.
posted by bittennails at 6:10 AM on January 16, 2002

I was going to mention Çatal Hüyük, but this site could possibly be older.
posted by gimonca at 7:37 AM on January 16, 2002

There's a pseudo-scientist named Graham Hancock who for years has shown evidence that human cuture goes back much further than most historians belive. I find his theories fascinating; his work doesn't form conclusions so much as raise questions.
posted by tcobretti at 8:00 AM on January 16, 2002

harappa is a civilization that we don't have much evidence of, to wit. they were on the indian sub-continent, and if i remember correctly they were fond of water. (bathing, especially.) there have been some links on metafilter regarding the harappans, including one on their discovery. (or am i thinking of someone else about the water thing?)
posted by moz at 8:29 AM on January 16, 2002

tcobretti: that hancock link keeps crashing my browser, but it sounds interesting, I shall try it on another machine.

moz: I think the harrappa link in my post has quite a bit of evidence and detail regarding their language and buildings. Seems like a lot of evidence for a lost civ. Yeah and water seems important, even in this new discovery, but I suppose proximity to water is fundamental to a civ. developing.
posted by bittennails at 9:17 AM on January 16, 2002

Sorry about the link. Works fine for me. Try this. It's a link beyond the title page.
posted by tcobretti at 9:22 AM on January 16, 2002

Basically Hancock's idea is that a global civilization could have been wiped out when the last ice age ended. The underwater nature of the new find appears to tie in with Hancock's theory. Personally, I love the way the world's flood myths tie into Hancock's theories.
posted by tcobretti at 9:29 AM on January 16, 2002

More flood links
posted by tcobretti at 9:40 AM on January 16, 2002

The Indus Valley Civilization created Harappa & Mohenjodaro. Most believe that after the Aryans entered the sub-continent, the IVC people moved further south, and became the people we know as the South Indians (Dravidians).
posted by riffola at 10:18 AM on January 16, 2002

tcobretti: thanks for the links, 2nd one worked, That is an interesting theory. I like the underwater aspects, I wonder how much else is yet to be discovered in our oceans, the atlantis myth had me really engrossed for a long time as a kid.
posted by bittennails at 10:28 AM on January 16, 2002

Lord Krishna's kingdom's capital Dwarka sank underwater too.

From The legend behind the golden city of Dwarka:
These facts seem to be on their way to be verified by the explorations and excavations begun by the Archeaological Survey of India in this area. The remains of an ancient city which has been dated to as far as back as 1500 BC, have been found right next to modern Dwarka. This find justifies the accounts given in Mahabharata and other great literary works. This 'lost' city lies submerged under the Arabian Sea and the government plans to build the world's first underwater museum to allow people to visit this holy city.
posted by riffola at 12:58 PM on January 16, 2002

drudge has a link to this BBC article with a map and pictures. neat stuff :)
posted by kliuless at 1:38 PM on January 16, 2002

Me and my wife always wanted to visit Dwarka, but never did, we were in gujarat in '95, Now I wish we did. Thanks for all the links everyone, it has occupied my evening well.
posted by bittennails at 3:09 PM on January 16, 2002

moz, I'm wondering if you were meant this discovery.

Anyway if this date proves correct, this will be a truly revolutionary discovery. For comparison, Iraqi prehistoric (and pre-Sumerian) archaeology dates the first appearance permanent multi-room houses and temples at around 5800 BC (the so-called Hassuna period).

btw Could someone please shoot Graham Hancock.
posted by lagado at 7:55 PM on January 16, 2002

found some astonishing pictures :) it turns out they were rappers! i'm dumb.
posted by kliuless at 8:18 PM on January 16, 2002