Hubs and upstarts: pathways to urbanism in the northern Fertile Crescent

Lawrence, D.; Wilkinson, T.J.

Abstract

The origins of urbanism are a controversial subject, with neo-evolutionary progress through graduated stages of ‘civilisation’ still having significant influence despite criticism, while others in the field prefer more diverse, regionally based trajectories. Using data collected over 30 years and applying the full range of archaeological and historical sources, the authors offer an alternative reading of the evidence, identifying multiple pathways to urbanism within a single region—northern Mesopotamia. Here, early urbanism was a phased and pulsating phenomenon that could be sustained only within particular geographic parameters and for limited periods. Older urban hubs, growing slowly, were accompanied by rapidly expanding new sites, with the combination of the different forms demonstrating the complexities of urban growth.

Citation

Lawrence, D., & Wilkinson, T. (2015). Hubs and upstarts: pathways to urbanism in the northern Fertile Crescent. Antiquity, 89(344), 328-344. https://doi.org/10.15184/aqy.2014.44

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 19, 2014
• Online Publication Date: Apr 8, 2015
• Publication Date: Apr 8, 2015
• Deposit Date: Dec 17, 2014
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 27, 2015
• Journal: Antiquity
• Print ISSN: 0003-598X
• Electronic ISSN: 1745-1744
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 89
• Issue: 344
• Pages: 328-344
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.15184/aqy.2014.44
• Keywords: Late Chalcolithic, Early Bronze Age (EBA), Fertile Crescent, Urbanism, Tell, Survey, Database, Regional exchange.
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1415233