Post by Catsmate on Jan 25, 2016 11:35:22 GMT
Another seed inspired by a news story (link). And spider free1.
It's generally believed that warfare first occurred in human history after the establishment of agriculture
However the recent discovery of what appears to be a battle-site at Nataruk near Lake Turkana in a remote area of northern Kenya seems to show organised and (relatively) large scale warfare between hunter-gatherers.
The skirmish happened around 10kyBP and involved nomadic Homo sapiens using wooden clubs, stone tipped spears, stone headed axes and obsidian tipped arrows; twenty seven bodies have been discovered so far at the site, which has been under investigation for three years.
What's interesting to archaeologists about the find is that it's the earliest proof of warfare between hunter-gatherers, given the prevailing view that such groups didn't engage in organised conflicts, the potential costs outweighing the possible benefits. It's believed that the abundance of food around the lake
Game use.
1. As I've said Lake Turkana is a fascinating piece of human history, and one that's of immense interest to archaeologists and historians studying early humanity. It'd also be the perfect place for some 'field research in real time' by a group of academics with access to time travel. For example those accident prone historians St Mary's Institute of Historical Research under the redoubtable Dr. Madeline Maxwell. Naturally this provides opportunity for mishaps, meddling with history (accidental and/or deliberate), inadvertently leaving things behind and more.
2. For a Modern Day, UNIT-centric campaign there's the possibility that those archaeologists may unearth something strange in their diggings2. Evidence of alien tampering with human history perhaps, or actual bits of alien tech that have survived.
3. Time travellers could arrive at the site in the run up to the battle, perhaps a Companion has an interest in human history and good Convince skills; Peri, River Song or Benny Summerfield for example. Instead of the history they think they know, they stumble over someone tampering with events. Are the Meddler's actions a fixed part of human history? Was the battle really caused by resource and population pressures or were the humans fighting over something else? Or fighting for someone else? Has someone incited the humans to fight to entertain a group of jaded disaster toursits from the future?
Whatever is happening the party have to tread carefully to avoid inadvertently altering human history, or leaving traces of the presence for archaeologists to argue over.
Comments? Ideas? Suggestions?
1 Though not scorpion free.
2 Hardly the first time in the Whoniverse; The Tomb of the Cybermen, The Land of the Dead, Image of the Fendahl, Earthshock, The Dæmons, The Dalek Project... Good grief attaching a UNIT monitor should be standard practice given the threats to humanity that the buggers unearth.
It's generally believed that warfare first occurred in human history after the establishment of agriculture
However the recent discovery of what appears to be a battle-site at Nataruk near Lake Turkana in a remote area of northern Kenya seems to show organised and (relatively) large scale warfare between hunter-gatherers.
- In one of those bizarre coincidences that only happen in real life, because they'd be laughed at in fiction, the lake was originally named Lake Rudolf by the first Europeans to discover the late in 1888. Yep it was named after that Prince Rudolf...
The skirmish happened around 10kyBP and involved nomadic Homo sapiens using wooden clubs, stone tipped spears, stone headed axes and obsidian tipped arrows; twenty seven bodies have been discovered so far at the site, which has been under investigation for three years.
What's interesting to archaeologists about the find is that it's the earliest proof of warfare between hunter-gatherers, given the prevailing view that such groups didn't engage in organised conflicts, the potential costs outweighing the possible benefits. It's believed that the abundance of food around the lake
- Nataruk is considered one of the possible cradles of human development, given the abundance of fossil traces of hominids and hominins reaching back four million years, including the first known tools. It's likely that the generally pleasant climate and abundant food sources led to habitation over a long period of human and proto-human history.
Game use.
1. As I've said Lake Turkana is a fascinating piece of human history, and one that's of immense interest to archaeologists and historians studying early humanity. It'd also be the perfect place for some 'field research in real time' by a group of academics with access to time travel. For example those accident prone historians St Mary's Institute of Historical Research under the redoubtable Dr. Madeline Maxwell. Naturally this provides opportunity for mishaps, meddling with history (accidental and/or deliberate), inadvertently leaving things behind and more.
2. For a Modern Day, UNIT-centric campaign there's the possibility that those archaeologists may unearth something strange in their diggings2. Evidence of alien tampering with human history perhaps, or actual bits of alien tech that have survived.
- If the meddlers were time travelling humans rather than actual aliens this would be a perfect opportunity to suggest that the PCs were the ones meddling in human history. Especially if there's a suggestion they didn't survive. While the Predestination Paradox can be annoying to players, it can provide much opportunity for good gaming.
- Don't forget the potential for nature either. The area around Lake Turkana is prone to strong winds and sudden, violent storms. Then there are the abundant Nile crocodiles, the poisonous scorpions and snakes (especially neurotoxic vipers) and occasional lions and cheetahs. Hopefully everyone has invested in Survival.
3. Time travellers could arrive at the site in the run up to the battle, perhaps a Companion has an interest in human history and good Convince skills; Peri, River Song or Benny Summerfield for example. Instead of the history they think they know, they stumble over someone tampering with events. Are the Meddler's actions a fixed part of human history? Was the battle really caused by resource and population pressures or were the humans fighting over something else? Or fighting for someone else? Has someone incited the humans to fight to entertain a group of jaded disaster toursits from the future?
Whatever is happening the party have to tread carefully to avoid inadvertently altering human history, or leaving traces of the presence for archaeologists to argue over.
Comments? Ideas? Suggestions?
1 Though not scorpion free.
2 Hardly the first time in the Whoniverse; The Tomb of the Cybermen, The Land of the Dead, Image of the Fendahl, Earthshock, The Dæmons, The Dalek Project... Good grief attaching a UNIT monitor should be standard practice given the threats to humanity that the buggers unearth.