Description : Tell Abu Hureyra (Arabic: تل أبو هريرة) is an archaeological site in the Euphrates valley in modern Syria. The remains of the villages within the tell come from over 4,000 years of pre-ceramic habitation spanning the Epipaleolithic and Neolithic periods. The site consisted of two villages; Abu Hureyra 1 and Abu Hureyra 2. Abu Hureyra 1's inhabitants were from the Epipaleolithic era and were sedentary hunter gatherers. Abu Hureyra 2 dates from early Neolithic times and was composed of farmers. Ancient Abu Hureyra was occupied between 13,000 and 9,000 years ago in radio carbon years. The site is significant because the inhabitants of Abu Hureyra started out as hunter-gatherers, but gradually moved to farming, making them the earliest known farmers in the world. Cultivation started at the beginning of the Younger Dryas period at Abu Hureyra. Evidence uncovered at Abu Hureyra suggests that rye was the first cereal crop to be systematically cultivated. In light of this, it is now believed that the first systematic cultivation of cereal crops was around 13000 years ago. Due to the late glacial interstate, the Abu Hureyra site experienced climatic change. Due to lake level changes and aridity the vegetation ended up expanding into lower areas of the fields. Abu Hureyra ended up accumulating vegetation that consisted of grasses, oaks, and what is known as Pistacia Atlantica trees. The climate changed from warm and dry months, to abruptly cold and dry months.
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