Oldest War in Humanity?

Archeology discovery!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070103/sc_afp/syriaarchaeology_070103191556

Archaeologist finds traces of "humanity's first war" in Syria
Wed Jan 3, 2:15 PM ET

BERLIN (AFP) - A German archaeologist says he has found relics of "humanity's first war" in the north east of Syria in the form of balls of stone used as ammunition in the 4th century BC, the Die Zeit newspaper says in its edition due for publication on Thursday.

"We have there the oldest example of an offensive war," said Clemens Reichel, who is leading an archaeological dig in the ancient city of Hamoukar, on the border with Iraq, for the University of Chicago.

Reichel said that almost 6,000 years ago the city, whose fortifications were three metres (ten feet) thick, was besieged and reduced to ashes probably by attackers from southern Mesopotamia.

"It was not a little skirmish which took place here," said Reichel, who has been leading the dig since 2003. He spoke of a real "combat zone", to which the some 2,300 balls of stone and burned clay discovered at the main part of the site bear witness.

Cool.

2,300 balls of stone and burning clay. I don't think those guys were playing around.

Originally posted by Thorinn
Cool.

2,300 balls of stone and burning clay. I don't think those guys were playing around.

Yeah, I lol'd too.

Its cool, but I doubt it was the first war. First evidence of war.

Originally posted by Alliance
Its cool, but I doubt it was the first war. First evidence of war.

Yea, especially since they've dated it only 6000 years ago. I find it hard to believe that the first conflict between humans was that recent.

Well, that'd put it at 4000 BC, I think. Not really much to fight over in full-scale war when you're nomadic, prior to all the civilizations and such.

Originally posted by Captain REX
Well, that'd put it at 4000 BC, I think. Not really much to fight over in full-scale war when you're nomadic, prior to all the civilizations and such.

You would need more land to stop being nomads though

first the article yaps about the 'bullets' in the 4th century BC then it mentions the war in the 4th Millennium BC. Somebody messed up :d

Originally posted by Fire
first the article yaps about the 'bullets' in the 4th century BC then it mentions the war in the 4th Millennium BC. Somebody messed up :d

I wonder what were they trying to conquer. hmm

nice subject Dwarf 😄

But I agree on the fact that this would not have been man's first engaement with one another, poeple have been beating other people with rock and sticks for ages beyond, I think this might've been the first engagement that involed two banded forces, whilst all other ones just tribal disputes.

But burning clay and a hailstorm of rocks? these guys WERE serious.

And what's with the 4th century AD typo on the article? aren't we talking about 4th Millenia BC ?

War:

"A state of armed conflict between two or more groups."

Therefore, cavemen could have wars, and it would be impossible to prove they didn't. This can't be "The First War in Humanity."

Originally posted by KingTut
War:

"A state of armed conflict between two or more groups."

Therefore, cavemen could have wars, and it would be impossible to prove they didn't. This can't be "The First War in Humanity."

It can still be the first known war in history....

Originally posted by Fishy
It can still be the first known war in history....

True, but it's an irrelevant title.

Originally posted by KingTut
True, but it's an irrelevant title.

Depends, I think it's quite nice to know shit like this.

There is of course also a huge difference between two neighbors throwing sticks and two community's that could possibly pass as country's or something similar sending entire army's to the field and using all kinds of weapons to destroy the other side.

Originally posted by Fishy
Depends, I think it's quite nice to know shit like this.

There is of course also a huge difference between two neighbors throwing sticks and two community's that could possibly pass as country's or something similar sending entire army's to the field and using all kinds of weapons to destroy the other side.

Yes there is.

The problem is that the transformation from caveman warfare to full-scale warfare between two empires is a gradual process. Imagine that we knew every armed conflict that counted as a "war" (that's one hell of a lot of information.) How would we decide which one was the first full-scale war?

Originally posted by KingTut
Yes there is.

The problem is that the transformation from caveman warfare to full-scale warfare between two empires is a gradual process. Imagine that we knew every armed conflict that counted as a "war" (that's one hell of a lot of information.) How would we decide which one was the first full-scale war?

That is true, this wasn't the first conflict but it's the first proof we have a large scale war and it likely wasn't the first large war either but it's still pretty cool to know.

Originally posted by WrathfulDwarf
Archeology discovery!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070103/sc_afp/syriaarchaeology_070103191556

Oh, that is awesome! 😱