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.

Geographical and archaeological setting

The prehistory of Moellia happens in the historical region of Moellia in Central Cordilia, around the Prostasia and Defteros ranges. Moellia corresponds to the entirety of present-day UPRAN. Three regions are distinguished within this area: Rhaynan desert, Alla-gyan desert, and Nea-gyan steppe. Furthermore, there is a strong cultural similarity observed throughout Moellian prehistory between the three regions.

Rhayna is a flat, desert region with an average elevation of 200-300 meters, extending east of the Cordilian Sea and west of Prostasia. Most of the region doesn't receive sufficient rainfall for rain fed agriculture, with an average of less than 250 mm annually. However, the valleys near water sources are suitable for irrigation agriculture, specially the basin of Lake Kryo.

Alla-gy, however, is an alluvial slope that stretches from the northern peaks of Prostasia and Defteros down to the border with Hystaiga. Similar to Rhayna, it doesn't have much rainfall through out most of the year, but unlike the previous, it's special geography, boxed between two mountain ranges, allows for strong winds from the Cordilian Sea to rise along the slope to heights where it condenses above Prostasia and Defterods, allowing for the largest rivers of Moellia, namely, Apoala.

The climate in Nea-gy is milder, with more moderate temperatures and rainfall rates, allowing for a savannah like climate, with wet winters and dry summers.

These conditions have allowed for both locations were remains can be found in extreme quality, with even the occasional finding of mummies in the deserts and mountains, and for locations were remains have been lost forever to the natural elements, like in the sedimentary banks near rivers and lakes.

Lower Palaeolithic

The Lower Paleolithic (~1.5 million to 115,000 BCE) is the longest Paleolithic era, spanning from Homo erectus's first appearance in Moellia to the Last Glacial Period's onset. Initially, it featured a modern-like warm climate and basic stone tools, and Homo heidelbergensis was present alongside Homo erectus. The latter half saw Homo erectus dominate as Homo heidelbergensis depopulated the area, with cooler temperatures and more temperate semi-arid regions. Bifaces replaced simpler stone tools, and Moellia's population was exclusively Homo erectus, responsible for the region's early lithic industry.

Middle Palaeolithic

The middle Paleolithic (~115,000-30,000 BCE) lacks significant human presence in the area, with the exception of scattered Homo heidelbergensis subspecies fragments in an Apoala River cave. Further evidence is needed to fully understand their regional existence. Human remains are otherwise absent until 30,000 BCE, resulting in a gap in Moellia's early human record.