The University of Queensland

Agriculture and the Late Bronze Age collapse of the Hittite Empire (2009–2011)

Abstract:

Archaeological analysis will test the hypothesis that a failure of agriculture contributed towards the collapse of the Hittite Empire in late 2nd Millennium BC, part of the regional Late Bronze Age collapse of civilisations. Study of agricultural stress via the analysis of seeds and fruits from the site of Kaman Kalehoyuk will investigate trends in crop yield, climate, agricultural management and storage through the later Bronze Age and into the subsequent Dark Age. Unique data will be generated to address a key question in studies of the ancient Mediterranean and in so doing research will help to clarify the link between climate change, agricultural productivity and culture change for this period.

Grant type:

ARC Discovery Projects

Researchers:

• 

  Professor Andrew Fairbairn

  Professor
  

  School of Social Science

  Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences

Funded by:

Australian Research Council