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Journal article

Isotope evidence for agricultural extensification reveals how the world’s first cities were fed

Abstract:

This study sheds light on the agricultural economy that underpinned the emergence of the first urban centres in northern Mesopotamia. Using δ13C and δ15 26 N values of crop remains from the sites of Tell Sabi Abyad, Tell Zeidan, Hamoukar, Tell Brak and Tell Leilan (6500–2000 cal BC), we reveal that labour intensive practices such as manuring/middening and water management formed an integral part of the agricultural strategy from the seventh millennium BC. Increased agricultural production to ...

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Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

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Publisher copy:
10.1038/nplants.2017.76

Authors


More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
SSD
Department:
School of Archaeology
Sub department:
Archaeology Institute
Role:
Author
More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
SSD
Department:
School of Archaeology
Sub department:
Archaeology Institute
Role:
Author
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Grant:
Early Faculty CAREER Award (1054938
More from this funder
Grant:
AGRICURB project, grant no. 312785
“Consolidating Empire” 282785
Publisher:
Springer Nature Publisher's website
Journal:
Nature Plants Journal website
Volume:
3
Pages:
17076
Publication date:
2017-06-05
Acceptance date:
2017-04-27
DOI:
EISSN:
2055-0278
ISSN:
2055-026X
Pubs id:
pubs:691591
UUID:
uuid:bdb67f96-7b54-4beb-8f75-66d6535da386
Local pid:
pubs:691591
Source identifiers:
691591
Deposit date:
2017-04-28

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