At the threshold of written history, when the first civilizations began to consolidate in Mesopotamia and Anatolia, the world experienced radical changes in social structure, economy, and culture. One of the most revealing findings about this process is Basur Höyük, an ancient royal cemetery discovered in eastern Turkey. A recent study reveals that this archaeological site provides key insights into understanding the origin of inequality in the Bronze Age, right on the margins of the Mesopotamian world.

Located in the Siirt province of present-day Turkey, Basur Höyük has been identified as a settlement of great significance during the third millennium BCE. Archaeological research has uncovered the existence of monumental tombs belonging to the local elite. These graves contain exceptional burial goods, including weapons, prestige objects, and offerings that indicate a clear social differentiation among the region’s inhabitants.

The study, based on excavations and detailed archaeological analysis, suggests that Basur Höyük was a center of local power with strong ties to the great cities of Mesopotamia. Although it was not part of the major empires of the time, this enclave became a focus of wealth and prestige accumulation, reflected in the tombs of its ruling elite.

human sacrifices teenagers bronze age
The location of Başur Höyük on the Upper Tigris. Credit: D. Wengrow et al.

One of the most striking findings at Basur Höyük is the presence of evidence of human sacrifices, a phenomenon also documented in other ancient civilizations. In some tombs, archaeologists found the remains of multiple individuals who were apparently buried alongside the rulers, in a ritual symbolizing the transition to the afterlife and the maintenance of social order even after death.

Such practices were common in highly hierarchical societies, where leaders used these rituals not only as demonstrations of power but also as mechanisms to reinforce loyalty and the structure of domination. Bioarchaeological analyses have determined that the victims were deliberately selected, mostly teenage girls.

The burial goods found at Basur Höyük are another key piece of evidence for the growing inequality in the region during the Bronze Age. The elite tombs contain bronze daggers and spearheads, cylinder seals, elaborate gold and silver jewelry, and other luxury items that denote privileged access to goods and advanced technologies.

human sacrifices teenagers bronze age
A selection of metallic, copper-base grave goods from Başur Höyük. Credit: D. Wengrow et al.

These elements reinforce the hypothesis that social inequality did not arise spontaneously, but rather as the result of a gradual process driven by the consolidation of power, resource control, and the institutionalization of class differences.

The analysis of this royal cemetery helps better understand how human societies transitioned from egalitarian systems to highly hierarchical structures. Basur Höyük was positioned between the Mesopotamian cities and the tribal populations of Anatolia, giving it a key role in the diffusion of ideas, technologies, and power structures.

From the study of this site, researchers have identified patterns similar to those observed in other regions of the world, where the emerging elite used war, trade, and religious rituals to consolidate their dominance over the rest of the population. Archaeological evidence suggests that inequality was not a side effect of the development of civilization, but a deliberate mechanism for the organization of power.

SOURCES

Wengrow D, Hassett B, Sağlamtimur H, et al. Inequality at the Dawn of the Bronze Age: The Case of Başur Höyük, a ‘Royal’ Cemetery at the Margins of the Mesopotamian World. Cambridge Archaeological Journal. Published online 2025:1-12. doi:10.1017/S0959774324000398

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