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In what is being dubbed a groundbreaking archaeological discovery, an international team of archaeologists has found the world’s oldest known fort which dates back to 8,000 years in a remote region of Siberia. This indicates hunter-gatherers made complex defence structures, much before than once believed.&nbsp;

The findings of the study published in the journal Antiquity said that the new research reshapes our understanding of early human societies and challenges the popular belief that fortresses were built with the advent of agriculture.&nbsp;

<h2>What does the study say?</h2>

The study titled, ‘The World’s Oldest-Known Promontory Fort: Amnya and the Acceleration of Hunter-Gatherer Diversity in Siberia 8000 Years Ago’ was published earlier this month.&nbsp;

The cluster of fortified structures found defies the “conventional stereotypes that depict such societies as basic and nomadic, unveiling their capacity to construct intricate structures,” said study co-author Tanja Schreiber, an archaeologist at the Free University of Berlin, told Live Science, in an email.&nbsp;

The team of researchers led by Professor Henny Piezonka and an archaeologist in Yekaterinburg, Russia, Dr&nbsp;Natalya Chairkina, conducted fieldwork at the fortified settlement of Amnya which is said to be the northernmost Stone Age fort in Eurasia in 2019.&nbsp;

<h2>What did they find?</h2>

It was through archaeological examinations at Amnya and following the analysis of the samples collected at the site by radiocarbon dating that the team was able to ascertain it as the world’s oldest-known fort, said Schreiber, in a statement.&nbsp;

“Our new palaeobotanical and stratigraphical examinations reveal that inhabitants of Western Siberia led a sophisticated lifestyle based on the abundant resources of the taiga environment,” the archaeologist at Berlin added.&nbsp;

The site is located along the Amnya River in western Siberia and includes around 20 scattered pit-house depressions which were divided into two sections – Amnya I and Amnya II.&nbsp;

The study also suggests that the prehistoric inhabitants caught fish from the Amnya River and hunted elk and reindeer using bone and stone-tipped spears.

At the time when the structure was constructed, pit houses would be surrounded by earthen walls and wooden palisades, said the researchers, in a statement, adding that this would suggest “advanced architectural and defensive capabilities.”

It added, “This discovery challenges the traditional view that permanent settlements, accompanied by defensive structures, only emerged with farming societies, thus disproving the notion that agriculture and animal husbandry were prerequisites for societal complexity.”

The researchers noted that they don’t know what could have prompted hunter-gatherers to fortify structures in the first place but the location itself could be strategic since it overlooks a river and would be an ideal lookout point for potential threats. It would also allow them to keep a tab on the fishing and hunting grounds.&nbsp;

Schreiber, as per Live Science said that they are not sure who ordered the fort’s construction or if it was an authority or the entire community’s collaboration to protect people and valuables.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

In what is being dubbed a groundbreaking archaeological discovery, an international team of archaeologists has found the world’s oldest known fort which dates back to 8,000 years in a remote region of Siberia.

In what is being dubbed a groundbreaking archaeological discovery, an international team of archaeologists has found the world’s oldest known fort which dates back to 8,000 years in a remote region of Siberia. This indicates hunter-gatherers made complex defence structures, much before than once believed. The findings of the study published in the journal Antiquity said that the new research reshapes our understanding of early human societies and challenges the popular belief that fortresses were built with the advent of agriculture. What does the study say? The study titled, ‘The World’s Oldest-Known Promontory Fort: Amnya and the Acceleration of Hunter-Gatherer Diversity in Siberia 8000 Years Ago’ was published earlier this month. The cluster of fortified structures found defies the “conventional stereotypes that depict such societies as basic and nomadic, unveiling their capacity to construct intricate structures,” said study co-author Tanja Schreiber, an archaeologist at the Free University of Berlin, told Live Science, in an email. The team of researchers led by Professor Henny Piezonka and an archaeologist in Yekaterinburg, Russia, Dr Natalya Chairkina, conducted fieldwork at the fortified settlement of Amnya which is said to be the northernmost Stone Age fort in Eurasia in 2019. What did they find? It was through archaeological examinations at Amnya and following the analysis of the samples collected at the site by radiocarbon dating that the team was able to ascertain it as the world’s oldest-known fort, said Schreiber, in a statement. “Our new palaeobotanical and stratigraphical examinations reveal that inhabitants of Western Siberia led a sophisticated lifestyle based on the abundant resources of the taiga environment,” the archaeologist at Berlin added. The site is located along the Amnya River in western Siberia and includes around 20 scattered pit-house depressions which were divided into two sections – Amnya I and Amnya II. The study also suggests that the prehistoric inhabitants caught fish from the Amnya River and hunted elk and reindeer using bone and stone-tipped spears. At the time when the structure was constructed, pit houses would be surrounded by earthen walls and wooden palisades, said the researchers, in a statement, adding that this would suggest “advanced architectural and defensive capabilities.” It added, “This discovery challenges the traditional view that permanent settlements, accompanied by defensive structures, only emerged with farming societies, thus disproving the notion that agriculture and animal husbandry were prerequisites for societal complexity.” The researchers noted that they don’t know what could have prompted hunter-gatherers to fortify structures in the first place but the location itself could be strategic since it overlooks a river and would be an ideal lookout point for potential threats. It would also allow them to keep a tab on the fishing and hunting grounds. Schreiber, as per Live Science said that they are not sure who ordered the fort’s construction or if it was an authority or the entire community’s collaboration to protect people and valuables. (With inputs from agencies)

Discovery of world’s oldest fort reshapes our understanding of early humans: Here’s why

Thousands of evacuees who fled a massive wildfire in the Canadian oil hub of Fort McMurray are set to return home today, though concerns ranging from contaminated drinking water to insurance claims linger as the city seeks to rebuild.

More than 80,000 residents were ordered to leave when the wildfire surged into the area four weeks ago, and officials expect the remote northern Alberta city to absorb roughly 14,000 to 15,000 residents as a re-entry plan spanning two weeks gets underway today.

The blaze was a devastating blow to a community already reeling from a two-year slump in global crude prices. It shuttered more than a million barrels per day of crude production, though some facilities had started to resume operations.

&quot;We are not going to stay, we&#39;ll go back and maybe remove some items,&quot; said Brenda Waterman, her face anxious over the unknown extent of fire damage to her home and chemical containments. &quot;I&#39;ve never experienced anything like this before, it&#39;s like a dream.&quot;

John Smith, 77, and his wife, Joyce, were bracing for heavy traffic on the main highway leading into the city, as well as what may lie ahead.

&quot;We didn&#39;t even have time to empty the garbage,&quot; he said. &quot;I&#39;m going in first with a flashlight and wearing a mask, and one of us will open the doors and windows and flush the house out.&quot;

Authorities have assembled extra police and emergency officials, and are urging travelers to remain patient and orderly as they grapple with traffic-snarled roads and hobbled infrastructure.

Grocery stores and pharmacies among other local businesses were poised to re-open with reduced stocks, and power and gas has been restored to a majority of structures in the areas awaiting returnees.

About 10 percent of the city&#39;s homes were destroyed by the blaze, which has blackened more than 580,000 hectares (2,239 square miles).

Even so, some 2,000 residents who had expected to return this week were ordered to hold off because of the risks posed by debris and contaminants including &quot;caustic&quot; ash.&nbsp;

Authorities have also issued a boil-water advisory and advised returnees to carry with them at least two weeks&#39; worth of food, water and prescription medication. Deteriorating air quality could force officials to suddenly change re-entry change plans.

Other challenges include limited medical services and labyrinthine insurance claims, as well as wildlife that has been scavenging the desolate neighborhoods for food.&nbsp;

&quot;It won&#39;t really hit you until you walk into it,&quot; said Adam Tucker, a 50-year-old oil sands worker, as he prepared to drive home.

Evacuees who fled the massive wildfire in the Canadian oil hub of Fort McMurray begin to return home, but worry about water contamination and insurance claims

Thousands of evacuees who fled a massive wildfire in the Canadian oil hub of Fort McMurray are set to return home today, though concerns ranging from contaminated drinking water to insurance claims linger as the city seeks to rebuild. More than 80,000 residents were ordered to leave when the wildfire surged into the area four weeks ago, and officials expect the remote northern Alberta city to absorb roughly 14,000 to 15,000 residents as a re-entry plan spanning two weeks gets underway today. The blaze was a devastating blow to a community already reeling from a two-year slump in global crude prices. It shuttered more than a million barrels per day of crude production, though some facilities had started to resume operations. "We are not going to stay, we'll go back and maybe remove some items," said Brenda Waterman, her face anxious over the unknown extent of fire damage to her home and chemical containments. "I've never experienced anything like this before, it's like a dream." John Smith, 77, and his wife, Joyce, were bracing for heavy traffic on the main highway leading into the city, as well as what may lie ahead. "We didn't even have time to empty the garbage," he said. "I'm going in first with a flashlight and wearing a mask, and one of us will open the doors and windows and flush the house out." Authorities have assembled extra police and emergency officials, and are urging travelers to remain patient and orderly as they grapple with traffic-snarled roads and hobbled infrastructure. Grocery stores and pharmacies among other local businesses were poised to re-open with reduced stocks, and power and gas has been restored to a majority of structures in the areas awaiting returnees. About 10 percent of the city's homes were destroyed by the blaze, which has blackened more than 580,000 hectares (2,239 square miles). Even so, some 2,000 residents who had expected to return this week were ordered to hold off because of the risks posed by debris and contaminants including "caustic" ash. Authorities have also issued a boil-water advisory and advised returnees to carry with them at least two weeks' worth of food, water and prescription medication. Deteriorating air quality could force officials to suddenly change re-entry change plans. Other challenges include limited medical services and labyrinthine insurance claims, as well as wildlife that has been scavenging the desolate neighborhoods for food. "It won't really hit you until you walk into it," said Adam Tucker, a 50-year-old oil sands worker, as he prepared to drive home.

Trepidation lingers as Canada wildfire evacuees begin to return home

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