No, Frank, that is not the point. Battlefield evidence is the point. It is pitifully scant. Cities are a different matter.
 
Incidentally, I am not aware of any evidence from any of the Harappan cities of violence or violent acts having occurred. That doesn't mean they didn't; just that there is no evidence. So there is some doubt in certain circles about the vicious barbarian horsemen over-running the cities of the plain, with attendant rapine and murder.
 
There is not much left of ancient battlefields; it isn't the same case with ancient cities.

Frank Pohlmann <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

--- Indrajit Gupta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>wrote:

> We are talking about a period which ranged roughly
> between 1500 BC to 400/500 BC. What kind of detritus
> did you expect to see left behind? Any examples from
> other geographies/locations?

Yes, Troy is not a bad example of a place that was
conquered and destroyed a few times, The Middle East
is full of such ruins.

>
> Split skulls? Wouldn't they be fine powder by today?

Not necessarily, depending how they have been
preserved.
> Coastal ports, fortified cities etc - could probably
> be related to the
> phoenicians, who were anyway regularly sailing these
> coasts

How's the state of the art re the Phoenicians anyway?
Anyone has any websites or book titles I could take a
look at?

> that can disprove a right winger theory. If you have
> any contemporary,
> and balanced studies you can point me to, that'd be
> great.

I dug out a Finnish scholar a while ago, but his name
escapes me right now. he was not balanced, strictly
speaking, but he gave all sides their due.

> > rather insalubrious imitators in the Middle East,
> > China and India.
>
> The aryans did appear to retain their love of
> cavalry / chariot troops
> and conquest, stuff like the "ashwamedha" that most
> emperors seemed to
> have performed, where they'd let a horse loose and
> send an army behind
> it .. wherever the horse goes, they try to attack
> that kingdom and claim
> it for their emperor.

The story seems common between the Bosporus and
Northern India and is usually related to IndoEuropean
invaders (not nec. Aryans, whoever they might have
been).

> So .. well, the conquest theory could well have been
> valid. Only there's
> not too much sign of the usual detritus a battle
> leaves behind - spear /
> arrow heads, swords, split skulls etc.
>
> Virus, drought or something similar followed by a
> largescale exodus out
> of the area could well cause it.

Are there any records of plagues etc. in the Indian
record before the Muslim invasions?

-Frank

>
>
>
>
>
> Indrajit Gupta
> 'Ramsharan', 396, TT Krishnamachari Road,
> Teynampet,
> Chennai 600 018.
>
> +914455511138
> +919884375777
>
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------
> Jiyo cricket on Yahoo! India cricket






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Indrajit Gupta
'Ramsharan', 396, TT Krishnamachari Road,
Teynampet,
Chennai 600 018.
 
+914455511138
+919884375777


Jiyo cricket on Yahoo! India cricket

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