Exploring the Roots of Mesopotamian Civilization: Excavations at Tell Zeidan, Syria

Exploring the Roots of Mesopotamian Civilization: Excavations at Tell Zeidan, Syria
Gil Stein, Oriental Institute
The Ubaid period (6th-5th millennia BC) saw the first establishment of towns and villages across Mesopotamia. This period provides the first evidence for the emergence of political leadership, economic differences between rich and poor, irrigation-based economies, dominating regional centers or towns, and the development of temples in these centers. In this lecture, Gil Stein discusses recent excavations at the Ubaid-period site of Tell Zeidan in Syria and the expansion of Ubaid culture across Mesopotamia.
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[@abaas90abaas36]

I live near the site and I worked in this wonderful team when I was in high school and as a result I studied ancient history at university .. I hope to connect with the team members in America

[@maryblushes71895]

That "back scratcher" looks EXACTLY like a crochet hook. Crochet is very like making fish nets or even rope. It is basically connected loops. Crochet is a very old form of weaving without a loom, shuttle, etc. Just need that hook and some form of "yarn" or string.

[@sohara....]

5:01 talk starts: Dr Gil Stein, director of the Oriental Institute

[@danlewis7641]

What a fascinating talk. Yes it was great to be able to clearly see the slides during the lecture. Really tragic to think about the horrible war that has occurred in that area.

[@Xscott1000]

Thank you for posting this I have learned allot.

[@alexvlk]

Wonderful lecture. Sad that politics have likely stopped this dig too. Need an update lecture

[@SuperDdy]

Excellent work hope the political situation stabilizes and you can return.

[@yichengyi]

This is an incredible lecture.

[@adrien720856]

I did not know Raqqah was such an important archeological site. Very informative & sad at the same time

[@Knaeben]

Content starts about 5:03

[@abogadojon]

Thanks.

[@NorCalJuggalo420]

You're a true MVP for this.

[@gaslitworldf.melissab2897]

Wow, this was uploaded in 2010, but it's very informative. I like to find lectures, but sometimes the video neglects to include the slide part of the presentation and that loses me. This one included it so I didn't have to look up maps and other illustrations. Great lecture. I'd love to be one of his students. I majored in History, hope to participate in a dig one day on an adventure away from home. For now, the best areas are politically unstable thanks to years of interference from you-know-who.

[@maedorasmith33]

What you referred to as back scratcher looks to me like maybe a crochet hook or possibly even a fish hook

[@thomasf.5768]

Outstanding presentation. Fantastic visual aids & graphics !! This is all new info to me & extremely fascinating ! ** Could the hooked nail item be some sort of "file" because of hash marks ## ? Where it scrapes sediment & residue from pottery to remove bad tastes & oils/fats/ meat films ??? I compare it to a Brillo Pad to scrap plastic Tupperware. ** Or it could be a medical device for "massage" of body parts ?? Modern massage tools look similar to it but more stubby.

[@johnmichaeltabvuma7409]

Deeply informative.Thank you

[@RonJohn63]

17:15 The mace is *still* a symbol of power in some ceremonies.

[@gamesbok]

Ronjohn63 “Take away that fool's bauble, the mace.” ―Oliver Cromwell

[@MrKmanthie]

Even in the US congress! (seriously).

[@walt3223]

Sling Bullets, Eye on the Prize, Gazelle - food. time 45:52 and 49:05. Could the eye between the legs of the Gazelle be a sling bullet on its way to the Gazelle? Hunting.

[@barkunderjord3708]

Thx, although it is sad with the war and all there now. It is postpone indefinitely for the moment I guess?

[@nieznanyzonierz2955]

This artifact on the picture (in time 50:34) isn't a crochet hook?

[@patrickbass3542]

Why not?

[@Blanca12369]

what's become of these sites in these violent times?

[@shankarvaigankar8116]

Please advise which god where worshiped in ubaid period, sumer period and Babylon period?

[@NoName-fc3xe]

There was a large pantheon in the Sumerian and Babylonian periods. The mesopotamians were polytheistic.

[@annepoitrineau5650]

I disagree. The fact that the big house lasted so long does not mean the one family passed on their wealth. It means there was a rich family (more or less, maybe it was quite derelict at times, the way grand family mansions can become in the UK) living in that house. It might have been different lineages. same applies to the poorer house. We need more to decide it was the same families inhabiting each one of these houses.

[@iangillham9647]

Great lecture, very interesting.

[@lesleyhahn8682]

I would have called it a crochet hook ;-)

[@RonJohn63]

10:43 Buried in their houses???

[@gamesbok]

Under the patio, like we do today.

[@kaarlimakela3413]

Not unusual ... also practiced in Britain ... mesolithic era farmers, but I'm no expert. As far back as the Orkney underground community ... Neolithic, I think, was seperate mound-type graves with goods ... when bronze came in.

[@pergamonrecordings]

Yeah..also in Anatolia at Çatal Huyuk (even earlier) that is what people apparently did...:-)

[@johneyon5257]

very common among various cultures around the world

[@mliittsc63]

...and often not defleshed first. Apparently they didn't mind the smell.

[@torceridaho]

have a hard time following since he extrapolations are really conjecture based upon the material evidence. there are other explanations of the material evidence. large structures and smaller structures don't necessarily suggest wealth differentiation.

[@budjohn6604]

the invention of writing and city states I thought had their beginnings in the Nile Valley not Mesopotamia.

[@MrKmanthie]

bud john no, the 1st cities were in Mesopotamia and that is also where the earliest writing came from.

[@NoName-fc3xe]

Possibly even further east in the Indus River Valley.

[@wonderplanet343]

My great grandpa was part of first civilization on earth and invented the door. True story. He invented doorway later.

[@thomasf.5768]

Regarding the artifact which is a rod shape & blunt hook at the end: ⭐ It look exactly like a CROCHET HOOK !! Fiber arts were important. So, who needs a loom when you can use knitting needles or a CROCHET HOOK. Artifact could remind them of affection from Grandmother 🥰 🧵🧶🧵 🧺 * Or, blunt hooked rod is very similar to modern pottery & CLAY CRAFT TOOL. 🪔 . Prestige artifact to honor Grandfather who started out making pottery but current descendant sells 100s of vessels to neighboring villages in mass trade routes like Rockefeller, Chase, & Andrew Carnegie. 💰💲💰