Agriculture in lowland Mesopotamia in the Late Uruk-Early Dynastic period
The thesis reviewed the current state of archaeobotanical research in Mesopotamia and considered its significance for the study of Bronze Age agriculture of Lowland Mesopotamia. The climate, natural hydrology and geology of the area were described, with a view to assessing the impact of irrigation on the soils. The traditional irrigation practices of southern Iraq were discussed in relation to modern theory of irrigation and the applicability of the traditional system to that ofâą the Sumerian's. The types of agriculture practised in the irrigated arid region of Mesopotamia were examined with reference to modern irrigation agriculture theory. This centered on the agricultural systems seen in Lowland Mesopotamia in the early part of the twentieth-century and the way in which they were adapted to the particular local environmental conditions. The recovery, nature and possible modes of arrival of the Tell Abu Salabikh plant remains were considered in the light of the seasonality, ecology and potential uses of the plants. The characteristics of the weed seeds used to group the plants according to crop processing behaviour for the statistical analysis were explained. Statistical analyses of the Abu Salabikh plant
Charles, Michael Peter
Bronze Age agricultrure; Archaeobotany
Agriculture in lowland Mesopotamia in the Late Uruk-Early Dynastic period. The thesis reviewed the current state of archaeobotanical research in Mesopotamia and considered its significance for the study of Bronze Age agriculture of Lowland Mesopotamia. The climate, natural hydrology and geology of the area were described, with a view to assessing the impact of irrigation on the soils. The traditional irrigation practices of southern Iraq were discussed in relation to modern theory of irrigation and the applicability of the traditional system to that ofâą the Sumerian's. The types of agriculture practised in the irrigated arid region of Mesopotamia were examined with reference to modern irrigation agriculture theory. This centered on the agricultural systems seen in Lowland Mesopotamia in the early part of the twentieth-century and the way in which they were adapted to the particular local environmental conditions. The recovery, nature and possible modes of arrival of the Tell Abu Salabikh plant remains were considered in the light of the seasonality, ecology and potential uses of the plants. The characteristics of the weed seeds used to group the plants according to crop processing behaviour for the statistical analysis were explained. Statistical analyses of the Abu Salabikh plant
agriculture lowland mesopotamia late uruk early dynastic period review_current state archaeobotanical mesopotamia consider significance study bronze_age agriculture lowland mesopotamia climate natural hydrology geology area describe view assess_impact irrigation soil traditional irrigation practice southern iraq discuss_relation modern_theory irrigation applicability traditional system type agriculture practise arid region mesopotamia examine_reference modern irrigation agriculture theory centered agricultural_system see lowland mesopotamia early_part twentieth_century way adapt particular local_environmental condition recovery nature possible mode arrival tell plant_remain consider_light seasonality ecology potential plant characteristic weed seed use group plant accord crop_processing behaviour statistical_analysis explain statistical_analysis plant