An international team of archaeologists finds the world’s oldest known fort

In a groundbreaking archaeological discovery, an international team of archaeologists has identified the world’s oldest known fort, dating back 8,000 years, in a remote region of Siberia. This finding challenges conventional beliefs about early human societies, suggesting that complex defense structures were constructed by hunter-gatherers long before previously thought.

Published in the journal Antiquity, the study titled “The World’s Oldest-Known Promontory Fort: Amnya and the Acceleration of Hunter-Gatherer Diversity in Siberia 8000 Years Ago” reveals a cluster of fortified structures at the site of Amnya in western Siberia. The research, led by Professor Henny Piezonka and Dr. Natalya Chairkina in Yekaterinburg, Russia, challenges stereotypes depicting such ancient societies as basic and nomadic.

Archaeological examinations and radiocarbon dating at the Amnya site confirmed its status as the world’s oldest-known fort. The site, located along the Amnya River, features around 20 scattered pit-house depressions divided into two sections, Amnya I and Amnya II.

The study indicates that prehistoric inhabitants at Amnya engaged in a sophisticated lifestyle, relying on the abundant resources of the taiga environment. The inhabitants were involved in fishing from the Amnya River and hunting elk and reindeer using bone and stone-tipped spears. The pit houses were surrounded by earthen walls and wooden palisades, suggesting advanced architectural and defensive capabilities.

The discovery challenges the traditional view that permanent settlements with defensive structures only emerged with farming societies, refuting the idea that agriculture and animal husbandry were prerequisites for societal complexity.

While the researchers are unsure of the motivations behind fortifying structures, the strategic location overlooking a river suggests it served as an ideal lookout point for potential threats and allowed control over fishing and hunting grounds. The study leaves unanswered questions about who ordered the fort’s construction and whether it was a collaborative effort of the entire community or a specific authority to protect people and valuables.