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I don't see why a mine is an indication of a local kingdom. It seems reasonable that it would be an outpost specific to resource extraction. All of the stuff
by treis 5y ago
I don't see why a mine is an indication of a local kingdom. It seems reasonable that it would be an outpost specific to resource extraction. All of the stuff they found could be the modern equivalent of finding a Rolex at an oil derrick in Oklahoma.
- mcphage 5y agoThe presence of an oil derrick would imply a certain level of technological sophistication. This mine might also.
- labster 5y agoThis structure of steel is a monument to the god Exxon, a chthonic deity whom the ancients believed was responsible for mineral wealth and the underworld. Like similar such monuments, it includes a deep well, whereupon sacrifices could be made to the ancestors or Exxon himself, or his mole men servants. Of course nowadays, we know there is no hidden world underground.
- tablespoon 5y ago> This structure of steel is a monument to the god Exxon, a chthonic deity whom the ancients believed was responsible for mineral wealth and the underworld. Like similar such monuments, it includes a deep well, whereupon sacrifices could be made to the ancestors or Exxon himself, or his mole men servants. Of course nowadays, we know there is no hidden world underground. What point is that supposed to make? No one's making that error here. They know these ancient mines were mines; they're not going "dunno what this is, must be a temple."
- number6 5y agoSo maybe in this case these mines are indeed a temple!
- mcphage 5y agoDid you ever read David Macaulay's "Motel of the Mysteries"?
- bluesmoon 5y ago+1 for using chthonic in a coherent sentence.
- tootie 5y agoI think the quandary here is over the dating. There were no known civilizations with stone architecture that were extant at the time the mine was operating. Someone in between Egypt and Rome was extracting and processing copper.