Prehistoric Rhayna (Pacifica)

Prehistoric Rhayna or Prehistoric Moellia is the period between the Palaeolithic and the emergence of writing and metal working in the area of Moellia, limited by the Cordilian Sea to the west, the Eastern Cordilian Desert to the east, Northern Prostasia and Northern Defteros to the north, and Southern Prostasia and Southern Defteros to the south.

The condition of archaeological remains in Moellia range from excellent in the interior of the country and in the arid deserts of Rhayna and Alla-gy, to greatly deteriorated near water sources like coasts and rivers, which makes the investigation of the history of some places specially challenging.

The Lower Palaeolithic witnessed the emergence of a population of Homo erectus hunter-gatherers who lived in the caves of the Prostasia range and Mt. Atzali, and in numerous open-air sites near water sources in Rhayna. They were producers of a lithic industry of the Acheulean type, and the funerary remains, found in the cave of Apamea, indicate the existence of solidarity and the practice of healing between the members of a group.

During the upper Palaeolithic, Moellia was probably occupied by modern man. The Apamea cave presents signs of all three lithic periods and lithic industries of Homo erectus, Homo sapiens, and a possible subspecies of Homo heidelbergensis.

The Mesolithic period in Moellia began around 22,000 years ago, following the end of the Last Glaciation Period Peak, and it was characterized by a shift in human settlement patterns, as communities retreated from the interior regions to the larger rivers and the basin of Lake Kryo. The changing climate and landscape prompted the development of microlithic technology, proto-cultures, and a transition to a hunter-gatherer lifestyle.

The Early Neolithic period marked a significant transition towards a farming-based economy in Moellia. Agriculture became the primary livelihood for communities, encouraging sedentary lifestyles and the establishment of permanent settlements. Shared architectural characteristics emerged in the separated populations of the region, reflecting differentiation in lifestyle in an originally homogeneous immigrant population. Food preparation primarily occurred in hearths and ovens inside houses, fostering communal life and social interaction. Representations of the skulls of different animals and preservations of these have also been found in these archaeologic settlements, among these the skulls of black vultures, mountain goats, camels, among others.

The Middle Neolithic was characterized by settlement expansion and the intensification of the farming economy. Land was cleared for grazing fields and arable lands, leading to the cultivation of new crops like rice, millet, and buckwheat. Sheep and goats were raised for meat and milk, while hemp and ramie were used to weave garments. Communities were socially organized into nuclear families, with settlements inhabited by a few hundred individuals.

The Late Neolithic period witnessed further settlement expansion and economic diversification in Moellia. The introduction of metalworking techniques revolutionized the economy, leading to the widespread adoption of bronze tools and weapons. This period also saw an increase in warfare, invasion, and the propagation of slavery, as evidenced by archaeological findings.

The Final Neolithic period marked the transition from the Neolithic stone tools to the metal-based economy of the Early Bronze Age. This transition occurred gradually as communities in Nea-gy began importing bronze and copper and using basic bronze-working techniques from Eastern Cordilia. Warfare and slavery propagated throughout Moellia during this period due to the population pressure on the river valleys and lake basins, with some settlements showing signs of pillage, abandonment, and repopulation.

The early Neolithic period saw the appearance of the first hearths, pestles, and large millstones following the arrival of agriculture to the region, indicating the start of sedentarization and settlement in permanent villages, which was quickly adopted. Representations of the skulls of different animals and preservations of these have also been found in this archaeologic settlements, among these the skulls of black vultures, mountain goats, camels, among others.

By 5,000 BCE, the previously seemingly unorganized settlements grew into cities, a ruling class emerged that formed small city states, and certain populations of Moellia slowly adopted a shared writing.