Ancient tides could be the reason for the emergence of the first urban civilization

A recent study is changing the understanding of how urbanization developed in ancient Mesopotamia. According to the analysis, the emergence of the Sumerian civilization was not only the result of human ingenuity, but also the force of nature — the interaction of rivers, tides and shifting precipitation in the northern part of the Persian Gulf played a crucial role in the formation of the first urban centers of the world. This was reported on October 27 by Science Daily magazine.

The study was conducted by Liviu Giosan, a senior scientist in the field of geology and geophysics at the Woods Hole Institute of Oceanography, and Reed Goodman, an assistant professor of social ecology and forestry at Clemson University. Their work is based on many years of research within the framework of the archaeological project Lagash.

Scientists have presented a new paleoecological model showing that tidal rhythms influenced the initial stages of agriculture and social organization in Sumer. Instead of relying solely on river flooding, the region's development was driven by predictable tides that provided water and fertile soil.

"Our results show that Schumer was literally and culturally built on the rhythms of water. The cyclical nature of the tides and the morphodynamics of the delta — how the shape or outline of the landscape changes over time under the influence of dynamic processes — were deeply rooted in the myths, innovations and daily life of the Sumerians," said Giosan.

Sumer, located in southern Mesopotamia (modern Iraq), is recognized as one of the earliest human civilizations. Many major inventions were created here, including writing, the wheel, and large-scale agriculture. The city-states of the region — Uruk, Ur and Lagash — developed complex political and religious systems that became the basis for subsequent societies.

According to the study, 7-5 thousand years ago, the Persian Gulf extended much further inland than it does today. Tidal waves brought fresh water from the lower reaches of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers twice a day, and farmers could use the constant flow by building short channels to irrigate fields and date groves.

Over time, precipitation carried by rivers formed deltas off the gulf coast, isolating the interior from tidal waters. According to the authors, this ecological shift has caused numerous environmental and economic problems. The loss of tidal waters probably forced Sumerian communities to switch to large-scale irrigation and flood control systems.

"We often imagine ancient landscapes to be static. But the Mesopotamian delta was very different. Its troubled, changing lands required ingenuity and collaboration, leading to the first ever intensive farming methods and bold social experiments," added Goodman.

Using environmental and geological data, sediment samples from Lagash, and high-resolution satellite images, the team recreated what the coast of Sumer once looked like. Their reconstruction provides insight into how early societies adapted to dramatic environmental changes and how these challenges fostered innovation.

"Our work highlights both the opportunities and the dangers of social renewal in the face of a serious environmental crisis. Beyond this modern lesson, it's always amazing to discover the real story hidden in a myth — and truly interdisciplinary research like ours can help uncover it," Giosan clarified.

Earlier, on October 27, Popular Science magazine reported the discovery of a huge ancient Egyptian fortress in the north of the Sinai Peninsula. It was noted that these structures could serve as resting places for merchant caravans en route to Egypt, and as replenishment points for the national army when going on campaigns in the Middle East.

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