Does anyone know anything about...
Does anyone here know anything about the Ubaid culture?
Just curious, so if anyone is here, could you please give me some info??
Thanks
Yeah, the Ubaid period was the first well-known culture from southern Mesoptamia; the Ubaids give the first evidence of temple and other sophisticated architecture
Re: Does anyone know anything about...
Yeah, in fact some interesting things happened in the Ubaid period.
For the first time in mesopotamia, we have proof that the farmers harvested more than what they needed for themselves (thanx to systematic irrigation), so they could trade with the surplus of the harvest. Other members of the society could thus concentrate on jobs different from farming - being paid with the farmer's surplus, providing them therefor with things like nice jewelry, handcrafted works or religious services.
Thus, it is most likely that in this time, different stratums in society were created...
Unfortunately, there is no written proof from that time...
Re: Does anyone know anything about...
Great to see people jumping in and posting! I happen not to be familiar with the Ubaidian culture, but will have a look at my books tonight to see if I can lend a hand.
Always eager to learn new things!!!
Am at work now, this is the reason for the delay.
best,
Lishtar
From the Depths and To the Heights to share in all spheres
Re: Does anyone know anything about...
Ok, here is what I found in my shelves. Will give the references first. *Red face* must confess that I haven´t read the Ubaidian or Uruk IV phases in detail... *redder still. I am more of a mythographer than a historian... apologies in advance!
1) Postgate, J. N. (1992) Early Mesopotamia: society and economy at the dawn of history. London, New York, Routledge. Lots of pages refer to Ubaid there.
"The first serious encounter with Mesopotamian prehistory came with Sir Leonard Woolley´s work on the mound of Tell-al-Ubaid, a few kms South of the city of Ur, on which a small Sumerian shrine had been built in the 3dr millennium BC. The period recognized by the painted pottery found here, and in the deepest levels of the city of Ur itself, was called Ubaid period, and taken to represent the earliest settlement in the South. Since then many other sites of the Ubaid period have been identified on the surface and deep soundings at Eridu...The evidence at Eridu does however suggest that a shift towards a more agricultural lifestyle was under way during the earlier Ubaid phases, with hunting and fishing implements prominent in the early levels and agricultural implements like sickles coming in somewhat later. On this basis, it seems acceptable at present to consider the early Ubaid - say along 5000 BCE - as the time for permanent agricultural settlements in the region."
And the second reference is Kuhrt, Amélie (1995) The Ancient Near East c. 3000-330 BC. London, New York, Routledge. Volume 1 - this book got a posh award last year for best publication on ANE. Professor Amélie Kuhrt is Reader in Ancient History at University College London.
From page 21:
The Ubaid culture is named after the site near Ur, where it was first identified by Woolley in the 1920s. Its cultural sequences were clarified by Oates (1960). An important evidence of this phase is the sequence of sanctuaries found at Eridu, in South Mesopotamia, the place where (Lishtar´s Note) "kingship descended to earth from the heavens". Eridu is the city sacred to Enki/Ea, the God of the sweet fertilising waters of the deep, of all magicks and crafts. Eridu´s findings thus show cultural continuity despite the technological and political changes that occured over 3,000 years.
I had found two links that with a click would take you to archaeological sites and pottery of the Ubaid Period. Will try to get hold of it... hmm... today was lady cleaner´s day in the office... She is too efficient. But will try to find the links for you.
From the Depths and To the Heights to share in all spheres
Re: Does anyone know anything about...
Got the ref below 2 years ago but did not have time to read the archaeological bits in detail. The chapter on the ensi and the lugal, the first rulers of Mesopotamia, is excellent, so I may use this ref later in the board. It also has excellent chapters on Ubaid and pre-Sumerians.
Maisels, Charles Keith (1990) The Emergence of Civilization: from hunting and gathering to agriculture, cities and the state in the Near East. London, New York, Routledge.
I like Routledge lots.
From the Depths and To the Heights to share in all spheres
Re: Does anyone know anything about...
Found a good archaeological link on Ubaid Culture in www.stockton.edu/~gilmore...1bnear.htm , and the title is Pre-Sumerian Cultures: Natufian and Ubaid periods. I enjoyed what I saw there!
From the Depths and To the Heights to share in all spheres
I happen not to be familiar with the Ubaidian culture, but will have a look at my books tonight to see if I can lend a hand. 
I had found two links that with a click would take you to archaeological sites and pottery of the Ubaid Period. Will try to get hold of it... hmm... today was lady cleaner´s day in the office... She is too efficient. But will try to find the links for you. 
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