Migrations in the Ancient Near East (3500-500 B.C.)

Abstract

Human migrations in the ancient Near East are attested from the earliest historical times, and continue intermittently throughout the ages. The archaeological evidence for population movements is attested primarily by new pottery assemblages and changes in burial customs. In addition, ancient Near Eastern texts and the writings of the Classical historians provide rather extensive data on the extent of human dispersals in the ancient world. These ancient migrations were primarily of two types — voluntary and forced. This paper discusses the circumstances leading to the former type, such as famine and warfare, as well as the reasons for the latter, namely, the imperial policies which resulted in mass deportations and population transfers. © 1993, The Anthropological Society of Nippon. All rights reserved.