Home Region: Mesopotamia (Southwest Asia)

Uruk

4000 BCE 2900 BCE

D G SC WF R

EQ 2020 iq_uruk / IqUruk*

Preceding Entity: Add one more here.

5500 BCE 4000 BCE Ubaid (iq_ubaid) [unknown]

Succeeding Entity: Add one more here.

2900 BCE 2500 BCE Early Dynastic (iq_early_dynastic) [continuity]

General Description

The name of this polity derives from the site of Uruk (modern Warka) located c. 35 km east from the Euphrates River, in south Iraq. This period is perceived as a time of deep transformations and significant inventions (such as wheel, fast wheel, plough, using alloys - bronze, writing system, etc.). There is very little known about the people living in Mesopotamia during that time (so-called Sumerian problem). There are some voices suggesting that Uruk population might have been identified as Sumerians, however there is no direct evidence to support this hypothesis. On the contrary, there is a lack of traces of invasion or appearance of completely new group of people. There is rather highlighted undisturbed continuation between previous polities, such as Ubaid and Uruk, and endurance of some cultural patterns, which are especially visible in architecture (construction of temples at Eridu or Uruk). ^[1] , ^[2] , ^[3] The nature of relations between Mesopotamia and Susiana land in this period deserves the special attention. There are few main ideas regarding the relationships between these two geographical areas. According to Algaze, the Susiana was colonized by group of people from southern Mesopotamia in the Uruk period and he indicates cultural homogeneity these two lands in Uruk period. ^[4] The opposite opinion is presented by Amiet, who suggested that Susiana was inhabited by two different ’ethnic’ group (so called - ’Elamite’ and ’Mesopotamian’ type). The culture of this land, hence, was seen as some kind of hybrid and the alternately appearance of ’Elamite’ or ’Mesopotamian’ cultural elements is related to some sort of ’fashion’ or ’trends’. ^[5] , ^[6] The Uruk polity is perceived by Algaze as some kind of proto-state organism and he describes it as “an early instance of an "informal empire" or "world system" based on asymmetrical exchange and a hierarchically organized international division of labour that differs from modern examples only in degree.” ^[7] He emphasizes very rapid and intense cultural growth of Uruk polity and he considers few types of Uruk expansions: “(1)new form of spatial distribution: the growth of cities and their dependencies; (2)new form of socio-political organization: the explosive growth of social differentiation, the emergence of encumbered labour, and the crystallization of the state; (3) new forms of economic arrangements and of record keeping: state control of a substantial portion of the means of production and of its surplus, craft and occupational specialization on an industrial scale; and, finally, (4)the new forms of symbolic representation needed to validate the changes taking place in the realm of social and political relationship-leading to the creation of an artistic tradition and iconographical repertoire that were to set the framework for pictorial representation in Mesopotamia for millennium to come.” ^[8] There are many hypotheses regarding the political system of Uruk polity. Most of the researchers (e. g. Frangipane, Rothman, Pollock, Wright) perceived the Uruk polity as some kind of united (in cultural sense) community which shares number of features (particularly in material culture) and they represent some early stage of city-state organization with dominant position of some cities and the group of elite. ^[9] , ^[10] However, other archaeologists believed (e. g. Algaze) that some cities have been already ruled by one person - ruler which collected all political, religious and military power. There are many images of this person on seals, sealing, vase, furniture inlays where he is showed as a warrior, bearded man in cap, hunter and master of animals. Algaze even writes: “comparison with inscribed statues of later Sumerian rulers in strikingly similar poses leaves no doubt that the analogous Uruk-period images are stylized and standardized representations of kings.” ^[11]

[1]: Roux 1998, 75-78

[2]: Crawford 2004, 16-18

[3]: Kuhr 1997, 22-23

[4]: Algaze 1993, 15-17

[5]: Amiet 1979

[6]: Amiet 1992: 80

[7]: Algaze 1989, 571

[8]: Algaze 1989, 590-91

[9]: Nissen 2001, 161

[10]: Pollock 2001, 181-233

[11]: Algaze 2001, 34

General Variables

Identity and Location

1 Utm Zone

1 Original Name

1 Capital

Temporal Bounds

1 Peak Years

1 Duration

Political and Cultural Relations

1 Suprapolity Relations

1 Supracultural Entity

1 Succeeding Entity

1 Relationship to preceding Entity

2 Polity Succession

1 Degree of Centralization

Language

1 Linguistic Family

1 Language

Religion

Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale

2 Population of the Largest Settlement

2 Polity Territory

2 Polity Population

Hierarchical Complexity

1 Settlement Hierarchy

1 Administrative Level

Professions

1 Professional Soldier

1 Professional Priesthood

1 Professional Military Officer

Bureaucracy Characteristics

1 Specialized Government Building

1 Merit Promotion

1 Full Time Bureaucrat

1 Examination System

Law

1 Professional Lawyer

1 Judge

1 Formal Legal Code

1 Court

Specialized Buildings: polity owned

1 Market

1 Irrigation System

1 Food Storage Site

1 Drinking Water Supply System

Transport Infrastructure

1 Road

1 Port

1 Canal

1 Bridge

Special-purpose Sites

1 Mines or Quarry

Information / Writing System

1 Written Record

1 Script

1 Phonetic Alphabetic Writing

1 Nonwritten Record

Information / Kinds of Written Documents

1 Scientific Literature

1 Sacred Text

1 Religious Literature

1 Practical Literature

1 Philosophy

1 Lists Tables and Classification

1 History

1 Fiction

1 Calendar

Information / Money

1 Token

1 Precious Metal

1 Paper Currency

1 Indigenous Coin

1 Foreign Coin

1 Article

Information / Postal System

1 Postal Station

1 General Postal Service

1 Courier

Information / Measurement System

Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)

Fortifications

1 Wooden Palisade

1 Stone Walls Non Mortared

1 Stone Walls Mortared

1 Settlements in a Defensive Position

1 Modern Fortification

1 Moat

1 Fortified Camp

1 Earth Rampart

1 Ditch

1 Complex Fortification

Military use of Metals

1 Steel

1 Iron

1 Copper

1 Bronze

Projectiles

1 Tension Siege Engine

1 Sling Siege Engine

1 Sling

2 Self Bow

2 Javelin

1 Handheld Firearm

1 Gunpowder Siege Artillery

1 Crossbow

1 Composite Bow

1 Atlatl

Handheld weapons

1 War Club

1 Sword

1 Spear

1 Polearm

2 Dagger

1 Battle Axe

Animals used in warfare

1 Horse

1 Elephant

1 Donkey

1 Dog

1 Camel

Armor

1 Wood Bark Etc

1 Shield

1 Scaled Armor

1 Plate Armor

1 Limb Protection

1 Leather Cloth

1 Laminar Armor

1 Helmet

1 Chainmail

1 Breastplate

Naval technology

1 Specialized Military Vessel

1 Small Vessels Canoes Etc

1 Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service

Economy Variables (Luxury Goods) Coding in Progress.

Religion Variables Coding in Progress.

Crisis Consequence Cases Coding in Progress.

Power Transitions Coding in Progress.

Instability Events Coding in Progress.

NGA Settlements:

Year Range	Uruk (iq_uruk) was in:
(4200 BCE 3000 BCE)	Southern Mesopotamia

Home NGA: Southern Mesopotamia

General Variables

Identity and Location Uruk (iq_uruk)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Utm Zone	38 S	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Original Name	Uruk	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Capital	None (Absent Capital)	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Temporal Bounds Uruk (iq_uruk)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More
Peak Years	[3200 BCE ➜ 3050 BCE]
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Duration	[4000 BCE ➜ 3000 BCE]
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Political and Cultural Relations Uruk (iq_uruk)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Suprapolity Relations	unknown [---] Suspected	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Supracultural Entity	unknown Suspected	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Succeeding Entity	Early Dynastic Sumer	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity	suspected unknown	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Preceding Entity 5500 BCE 4000 BCE	Ubaid (iq_ubaid) [unknown] Suspected
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Succeeding Entity 2900 BCE 2500 BCE	Early Dynastic (iq_early_dynastic) [continuity]
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Degree of Centralization	unknown Suspected	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Language Uruk (iq_uruk)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Linguistic Family	suspected unknown	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Language	unknown Suspected	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Religion Uruk (iq_uruk)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More

Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale Uruk (iq_uruk)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Population of the Largest Settlement	[7,000 to 20,000] people	4000 BCE 3501 BCE
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Population of the Largest Settlement	[40,000 to 50,000] people	3500 BCE 3000 BCE
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Polity Territory	[2,000 to 2,100] km²	4000 BCE 3501 BCE
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Polity Territory	[1,600 to 2,200] km²	3500 BCE 3000 BCE
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Polity Population	[20,000 to 38,540] people	4000 BCE 3501 BCE
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Polity Population	[21,300 to 41,000] people	3500 BCE 3000 BCE
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Hierarchical Complexity Uruk (iq_uruk)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Settlement Hierarchy	4	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Administrative Level	- Undecided	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Professions Uruk (iq_uruk)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Soldier	Unknown Suspected	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Professional Priesthood	Unknown Suspected	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Professional Military Officer	Unknown Suspected	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Uruk (iq_uruk)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Government Building	Absent Inferred	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Merit Promotion	Unknown Suspected	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Full Time Bureaucrat	Absent	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Examination System	Unknown Suspected	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Law Uruk (iq_uruk)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Lawyer	Unknown Suspected	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Judge	Unknown Suspected	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Formal Legal Code	Unknown Suspected	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Court	Unknown Suspected	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned Uruk (iq_uruk)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Market	Unknown Suspected	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Irrigation System	Present	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Food Storage Site	Present	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Drinking Water Supply System	Unknown Suspected	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Transport Infrastructure Uruk (iq_uruk)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Road	Unknown Suspected	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Port	Unknown Suspected	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Canal	Present	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Bridge	Unknown Suspected	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Special-purpose Sites Uruk (iq_uruk)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Mines or Quarry	Present	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Information / Writing System Uruk (iq_uruk)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Written Record	Present	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Script	Present	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing	Absent	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Nonwritten Record	Present	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Uruk (iq_uruk)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Scientific Literature	Absent Inferred	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Sacred Text	Unknown Suspected	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Religious Literature	Absent Inferred	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Practical Literature	Absent Inferred	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Philosophy	Absent Inferred	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Lists Tables and Classification	Present	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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History	Absent Inferred	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Fiction	Absent Inferred	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Calendar	Unknown Suspected	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Information / Money Uruk (iq_uruk)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Token	Present	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Precious Metal	Present	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Paper Currency	Absent	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Indigenous Coin	Absent	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Foreign Coin	Absent	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Article	Unknown Suspected	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Information / Postal System Uruk (iq_uruk)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Postal Station	Unknown Suspected	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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General Postal Service	Unknown Suspected	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Courier	Unknown Suspected	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Information / Measurement System Uruk (iq_uruk)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More

Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)

Fortifications Uruk (iq_uruk)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wooden Palisade	Unknown Suspected	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared	Unknown Suspected	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Stone Walls Mortared	Unknown Suspected	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position	Present	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Modern Fortification	Absent	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Moat	Unknown Suspected	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Fortified Camp	Unknown Suspected	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Earth Rampart	Unknown Suspected	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Ditch	Unknown Suspected	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Complex Fortification	Present	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Military use of Metals Uruk (iq_uruk)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Steel	Unknown Suspected	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Iron	Unknown Suspected	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Copper	Present	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Bronze	Unknown Suspected	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Projectiles Uruk (iq_uruk)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Tension Siege Engine	Absent Inferred	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Sling Siege Engine	Absent Inferred	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Sling	Present	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Self Bow	Present Inferred	4200 BCE 3501 BCE
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Self Bow	Present	3500 BCE 3000 BCE
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Javelin	Present Inferred	4200 BCE 3501 BCE
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Javelin	Present	3500 BCE 3000 BCE
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Handheld Firearm	Absent Inferred	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery	Absent Inferred	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Crossbow	Absent Inferred	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Composite Bow	Absent	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Atlatl	Absent Inferred	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Handheld weapons Uruk (iq_uruk)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
War Club	Present	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Sword	Present	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Spear	Present	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Polearm	Unknown Suspected	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Dagger	Present Inferred	4200 BCE 3501 BCE
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Dagger	Present	3500 BCE 3000 BCE
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Battle Axe	Present	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Animals used in warfare Uruk (iq_uruk)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Horse	Absent	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Elephant	Absent	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Donkey	Unknown Suspected	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Dog	Unknown Suspected	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Camel	Absent	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Armor Uruk (iq_uruk)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wood Bark Etc	Unknown Suspected	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Shield	Unknown Suspected	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Scaled Armor	Unknown Suspected	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Plate Armor	Unknown Suspected	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Limb Protection	Unknown Suspected	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Leather Cloth	Unknown Suspected	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Laminar Armor	Unknown Suspected	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Helmet	Unknown Suspected	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Chainmail	Unknown Suspected	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Breastplate	Unknown Suspected	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Naval technology Uruk (iq_uruk)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Military Vessel	Unknown Suspected	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Small Vessels Canoes Etc	Unknown Suspected	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service	Unknown Suspected	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)

Religion Variables

Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Uruk (iq_uruk)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad	Absent Inferred	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary	Absent Inferred	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic	Absent Inferred	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life	Absent Inferred	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward	Absent	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners	Absent	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted	Absent Inferred	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife	Absent	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites	Absent	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers	Absent	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain	Absent	4000 BCE 2900 BCE
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Human Sacrifice Uruk (iq_uruk)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More