Chinese

A fascinating article by Lindsay Powell in Ancient Warfare magazine discussing the archaeology of what may be the worlds oldest war memorial, dated to around 2,300BC. It is in present day Syria.All I would add is that the word 'chariot' is probably not appropriate here. This is too early for chariots. The article mentions the remains of kungas (an ass/ onager type quadruped) found in the mound and associates them with a type of 'chariot' seen in ancient art of the period. In fact the art of the period shows such animals pulling four-wheel battle wagons, rather than two-wheel chariots. They are Sumerian. There is much still to understand about how these battle wagons (predecessors to the chariot) were used. The principle armaments seem to have been quiverfulls of javelins.The battle wagons are heavily built, with solid wooden wheels and kungas would not be the first choice for a vehicle that you wanted to go fast. All very different from the skeletally light, spoked wheel chariots, pulled by horses, that were to follow. My own 'work-in-progress' theory is that these were mobile command posts, with the javelins able to defend at close range. If they appeared in number, then they might be useful to circle and create a fortified position - a laager. What are your thoughts? ...

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