Prehistoric innovations: Wheels and wheeled vehicles (original) (raw)

Abstract

Two of the most significant innovations of the fourth millennium BC were the invention of the wheel and of wheeled vehicles, which led to other major innovations during the Late Copper Age. Discussed here are the major milestones and advances in research on wheeled vehicles, problems of dating, and the issues relating to the actual place of the invention of wheeled vehicles as well as the fruitful collaboration between various analytical disciplines and archaeology concerned with the study of wheels and early wheeled vehicles. I have collected the finds relating to wheels and wheeled vehicles. It would appear that the invention of the wheel and of wheeled conveyances occurred in different centres. Even though we are unable to date the creation of the very first vehicle to the year, it seems quite certain that wheeled vehicles appeared more or less simultaneously in several regions in the fourth millennium BC.

Key takeaways

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  1. The wheel and wheeled vehicles emerged around 3600-2800 BC, significantly transforming prehistoric societies.
  2. Wheeled conveyances likely originated independently in multiple regions, including Mesopotamia and Europe.
  3. Animal domestication for traction power revolutionized agricultural practices and community economies during this period.
  4. Recent radiocarbon dating indicates contemporaneous use of wheeled vehicles in various regions around 3500 BC.
  5. This study highlights the interdisciplinary collaboration that enriches our understanding of early technological innovations.

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FAQs

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What advances did the introduction of wheeled vehicles bring in prehistoric societies?add

Wheeled vehicles sparked significant social and economic transformations, enhancing trade, communication, and labor specialization by fostering road construction and broader exchanges between communities around 3500 BC.

How does radiocarbon dating affect our understanding of wheeled vehicle origins?add

Recent radiocarbon dating indicates that wheeled vehicles appeared contemporaneously in Europe and Mesopotamia around 3500-3100 BC, challenging the prior single-origin paradigm demonstrated by Childe.

What were the primary innovations linked with wheeled vehicles during the Late Copper Age?add

The Late Copper Age innovations included the wheel, animal traction for agriculture, and the ard plough, significantly improving agricultural efficiency and community organization around 3500 BC.

What previous methodologies did researchers use to study wheeled vehicle origins?add

V. Gordon Childe's methodology involved reviewing archaeological finds, correlating them with dynastic chronologies, establishing a Mesopotamian origin theory based on artefact dispersal through trade and cultural exchange.

What insights did archaeozoological studies provide regarding human-animal collaboration?add

Archaeozoological evidence from settlements revealed that trained draught animals like cattle extended the value and utility of domesticated species, marking a shift to agricultural economies by the Late Copper Age.