https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2021/06/researchers-investigate-spread-of.html F Home * Home * About Us * Donation * Contact Us * RSS * Recent Comments # Top Social * * * # recent Breaking news # The Archaeology News Network [INS::INS] # Powered by Blogger. # Main menu * * Archaeology * Anthropology * Palaeontology * Evolution * Exhibitions * Natural Heritage * Astronomy # [Search This Site ] slider2 Ticker # Archaeology / Cultural Heritage / History [Archaeology] [twocolumns] # Anthropology / Human Evolution / Linguistics [Anthropology] [twocolumns] # Palaeontology / Palaeoclimate / Earth Sciences [Palaeontology] [twocolumns] # Evolution / Genetics / Biology [Evolution][twocolumns] # [INS::INS] # Researchers investigate the spread of weighing systems across Western Eurasia 4,000 years ago 6/29/2021 07:00:00 PM Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest [INS::INS] Knowing the weight of a commodity provides an objective way to value goods in the marketplace. But did a self-regulating market even exist in the Bronze Age? And what can weight systems tell us about this? A team of researchers from the University of Gottingen researched this by investigating the dissemination of weight systems throughout Western Eurasia. Their new simulation indicates that the interaction of merchants, even without substantial intervention from governments or institutions, is likely to explain the spread of Bronze Age technology to weigh goods. Researchers investigate the spread of weighing systems across Western Eurasia 4,000 years ago Stone balance weights with weight marks from the Bronze Age tell settlement of Arslantepe (Malatya, Turkey). The weights were found grouped together on the floor of a private house of phase VI D1 [Credit: Missione Archeologica Italiana nell'Anatolia Orientale/ Roberto Ceccacci] To determine how different units of weight emerged in different regions, researchers compared all the weight systems in use between Western Europe and the Indus Valley from 3,000-1,000 BC. Analysis of 2,274 balance weights from 127 sites revealed that, with the exception of those from the Indus Valley, new and very similar units of weight appeared in a gradual spread west of Mesopotamia. [INS::INS] To find out if the gradual formation of these systems could be due to propagation of error from a single weight system, the researchers modeled the creation of 100 new units. Taking into account factors such as measurement error, the simulation supported a single origin between Mesopotamia and Europe. Researchers investigate the spread of weighing systems across Western Eurasia 4,000 years ago Examples of Western Eurasian balance weights of the Bronze Age. A: Spool-shaped weights from Tiryns, Greece (L Rahmstorf). B: Cubic weights from Dholavira, India (E Ascalone). C: Duck-shaped weights from Susa, Iran (E Ascalone). D: flat block weights from Lipari, Italy (N Ialongo) [Credit: R Hermann, L Rahmstorf, N Ialongo] It also showed that the Indus Valley probably developed an independent weight system. The research demonstrated that if information flow in Eurasia trade was free enough to support a common weight system, it was likely to be sufficient to react to local price fluctuations. The weight systems that emerged between Mesopotamia and Europe were very similar. This meant that a single merchant could travel, for instance, from Mesopotamia to the Aegean and from there to Central Europe and never need to change their own set of weights. The merchant could trade with foreign partners while simply relying on approximating the weights. Researchers investigate the spread of weighing systems across Western Eurasia 4,000 years ago The type of weighing scales a Bronze Age merchant would have carried with her when moving from one market to another to trade: suspended replica bone balance scale with flax strings and leather pouches, holding two replica weights in equilibrium [Credit: R Hermann] There was no international authority that could have regulated the accuracy of weight systems over such a wide territory and long time span. In Europe, beyond the Aegean, centralized authorities did not even exist at this time. The researchers conclude that the emergence of accurate weight systems must have been the outcome of a global network regulating itself from the bottom-up. [INS::INS] "With the results of our statistical analysis and experimental tests, it is now possible to prove the long-held hypothesis that free entrepreneurship was already a primary driver of the world economy even as early as the Bronze Age," explains Professor Lorenz Rahmstorf from the Institute for Prehistory and Early History, University of Gottingen. Merchants could interact freely, establish profitable partnerships, and take advantage of the opportunities offered by long-distance trade. Researchers investigate the spread of weighing systems across Western Eurasia 4,000 years ago Diffusion of weighing technology in Western Eurasia (c. 3000-1000 BCE) [Credit: Nicola Ialongo] "The idea of a self-regulating market existing some 4,000 years ago puts a new perspective on the global economy of the modern era," says Dr. Nicola Ialongo, University of Gottingen. He adds, "Try to imagine all the international institutions that currently regulate our modern world economy: is global trade possible thanks to these institutions, or in spite of them?" The study was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Source: University of Gottingen [June 30, 2021] Support The Archaeology News Network with a small donation! Donate with PayPal button * [INS::INS] Labels Archaeology, Eurasia, Europe, India, Middle East [Gorgon_560] TANN * * * * * you might also like Newer Post Older Post Post A Comment * Blogger Comment using Blogger * Facebook Comment using Facebook * Disqus Comment using Disqus No comments : Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom) Exhibitions / Travel [Exhibitions] [bsummary] # Natural Heritage / Environment / Wildlife [Natural Heritage] [list] # Astronomy / Astrobiology / Space Exploration [Universe] [list] # # Featured Post Pressure grows on UK to hand back 'Elgin' Marbles after Scottish decision It is one of the biggest cultural arguments in recent history, but thanks to a Scottish decision, speculation is growing that the Elgin Marb... [Parthenon-] # Opinion Poll # Advertisement [INS::INS] # Connect with us [socialcounter] [facebook] [https://www.facebook.com/groups/ thearchaeologynewsnetwork/] [62069] [twitter] [https://twitter.com/ ArchaeoNewsNet] [18964] [pinterest] [https://gr.pinterest.com/ ArchaeoNewsNet/] [8247] # Follow By Email Subscribe to our newsletter to get our latest posts directly into your inbox. [ ] Subscribe # PLEASE SUPPORT THIS SITE Donate with PayPal button * # Advertisement [INS::INS] # * * recent posts [recentposts] # Popular Posts * [pointy-sh] Fashion for pointy shoes unleashed plague of bunions in medieval Britain The British have suffered for their fashion for centuries according to a new study suggesting that a vogue for shoes with a pointed tip led ... * [dna-three] The DNA of three aurochs found next to the Elba shepherdess opens up new enigma Research involving scientists from the University of A Coruna has succeeded in sequencing the oldest mitochondrial genome of the immediate a... * [Egypt-cop] The crisis era in ancient Egypt led to a change in the sources of copper Scientists have studied the composition of copper alloys from which ancient Egyptian funerary objects (mainly ushabti statuettes) were made ... * [Roman-cam] Experts discover camp used by 10,000 Roman soldiers sent to conquer Northwest Iberia Pioneering technology has helped experts find a lost camp built and used by thousands of Roman soldiers sent to conquer Northwest Iberia. Th... * [Arctic--d] Research team discovers Arctic dinosaur nursery Images of dinosaurs as cold-blooded creatures needing tropical temperatures could be a relic of the past. University of Alaska Fairbanks and... * [viking-1] Two Viking relatives reunited in Denmark after 1,000 years Separated for 1,000 years, two Viking warriors from the same family were reunited on Wednesday at Denmark's National Museum, as DNA anal... * [Vulci-08] Vase by master Greek painter found in princely tomb at Vulci At Vulci, even the artists of the time were able to express their creativity, feelings and imaginations through their works. This is testifi... * [new-evide] New evidence may change timeline for when people first arrived in North America An unexpected discovery by an Iowa State University researcher suggests that the first humans may have arrived in North America more than 30... # Advertisement [INS::INS] # random posts [randomposts] # Featured Video # Blog Archive [Blog Archive ] # tags Anthropology Archaeology Astrobiology Astronomy Biodiversity Climate Change Dinosaurs Early Birds Early Humans Early Mammals Earth Science Ecosystems Endangered Species Environment Evolution Exhibitions Forensics Fossils Genetics Heritage Human Evolution Linguistics Origin of Life Palaeoclimate Palaeontology Underwater Archaeology Wildlife # # Please enable JavaScript! Bitte aktiviere JavaScript! S'il vous plait activer JavaScript! Por favor,activa el JavaScript! antiblock.org # site visitors # blogspot visitor counter # recent posts [recentposts] # random posts [randomposts] # Copyright (c) The Archaeology News Network