A 7,000-Year-Old Mystery
Penn Museum Journal
Intro
Mainstream archaeology has traditionally held that civilization began in ancient Mesopotamia with the Sumerians. However, in the early 1900s, excavations at Tell Al’Ubaid in Iraq uncovered 7,000-year-old artifacts depicting humanoid figures with reptilian features. This discovery sparked a new wave of debate about the origins of civilization.
These ancient reptilian figurines are now dubbed Ubaid Lizardmen due to their iconic humanoid shape depicting lizard-like features. These figurines were found in significant numbers in Ubaid archaeological sites and are the primary evidence of the Lizardmen’s existence. However, there is a lot of speculation about the Lizardmen, with some researchers doubting their existence altogether.
The Ubaid Period
Before we delve into the Lizardmen, it’s essential to understand the historical context of their existence. The Ubaid period is named after the site of Al-Ubaid, where the first archaeological evidence was discovered in the eary 1920s and 1930s. This period marks the transition from the Chalcolithic period to the Bronze Age in Mesopotamia.
The people of Sumer had a well-developed way of life, living in large settlements and constructing mud-brick houses. They practiced advanced forms of agriculture, using irrigation to farm the land, and their architecture included T-shaped houses, open courtyards, paved streets, and food processing equipment.
As these villages grew into towns, they began to build temples and monumental buildings, such as those found in Eridu, Ur, and Uruk, the major sites of the Sumerian Civilization.
The Ubaid period was a prehistoric period of Mesopotamia previous to the development of the Sumerian Civilization, in which a mysterious civilization flourished, particularly in ancient southern Iraq, between approximately 6500-7000 BCE and 3700 BCE.
It marked the beginning of the settled way of life and the emergence of the world’s first urban centres. The period got its name from the excavation site of Tell al-Ubaid, located near the ancient city of Ur in present-day Iraq, where the earliest and most extensive remains of this era were discovered.
The Ubaid period witnessed significant changes in the social, economic, and cultural aspects of human life. Before this period, it is assumed that humans were mostly nomadic hunters and gatherers, moving from place to place in search of food and water. However, with the discovery of agriculture, people learned how to domesticate plants and animals, which allowed them to settle down in one place and build permanent dwellings.
The Ubaid period saw the development of irrigation systems, which led to increased agricultural production and the growth of cities. The people of this era also developed advanced techniques in pottery, metalworking, and textile production, which facilitated trade and commerce with neighbouring regions.
The Ubaid period was also characterized by the emergence of a hierarchical social structure, with a ruling elite and a labouring class. The elites were responsible for the administration of the cities, while the labourers worked the land and produced goods for the ruling class. The elites lived in elaborate houses and were buried with valuable items, suggesting a degree of social stratification and inequality.
Religion played an important role in the Ubaid period, with evidence of the worship of various deities and the construction of religious structures such as temples and shrines. The Ubaid people believed in an afterlife, and the dead were buried with grave goods such as pottery, jewellery, and weapons.
The end of the Ubaid period is marked by the emergence of the Uruk period, which saw the growth of large-scale urbanization and the development of writing. However, the Ubaid period laid the foundation for these later developments and played a crucial role in shaping the early civilizations of Mesopotamia.
The Ubaid culture was widespread, covering much of the region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, and was divided into three distinct phases. However, initial phase 0 and phase 4 are often counted as the beginning and end of the civilization because the appearance of the ceramics recovered at different sites has received different dates depending on the particular sites, which have a wide geographical distribution. In recent studies, there’s a tendency to narrow this period somewhat.
Phase 0
Sometimes called Oueili, (5500–5400 BC), an early Ubaid phase first excavated at Tell el-‘Oueili, the earliest known settlement in southern Mesopotamia.
Phase 1
The first phase, Ubaid 1, sometimes known as Early Ubaid or Eirdu, lasted from approximately 5000-5400 BCE to -4700-4500 BCE and was limited to the extreme south of Iraq, where people pioneer growing grains in extremely arid conditions. This period was also characterized by the use of simple, monochrome pottery and the construction of rectangular houses.
Phase 2
The second phase, Ubaid 2 or Middle Ubaid, lasted from approximately 4800 BCE to 4500 BCE and saw the emergence of polychrome pottery, more complex house structures, and the beginning of trade networks. This period also saw the development of extensive canal networks near major settlements. Irrigation agriculture and centralised coordination of labour in Mesopotamia.
Phase 3
The third phase, Ubaid 3, lasted from 4500 BCE to 3900-3500 BCE and was characterized by the development of a centralized political system and the emergence of the first city-states.
All these dates are somewhat disputed but seem to be the most widely accepted set.
In conclusion, the Ubaid period was a significant era in human history, marked by the transition from a nomadic to a settled way of life and the emergence of the world’s first urban centres. It witnessed significant advancements in agriculture, trade, and technology, as well as the development of social stratification and religion.
The legacy of the Ubaid period can still be felt today, as many of the fundamental aspects of civilization that we take for granted today, such as agriculture, urbanization, and social hierarchy, were first developed during this period.
The Ubaid Lizardmen Figurines
At the start of the 20th century, while excavating in Iraq’s Tell Al’Ubaid, archaeologists unearthed several artifacts from around 6500-7000 years ago that appeared to depict humanoid figures with reptilian features.
Several figurines were found, some of which were holding a staff or sceptre, potentially indicating authority and justice. They each had a different pose, but the most unusual was that of a female holding a baby which was depicted in the form of a lizard-like creature
Researchers have been perplexed by the Lizardmen figurines since they were discovered. There is much debate about what they signify, their purpose, and the civilization that created them. Here are some of the most commonly accepted explanations for the Lizardmen figurines.
The Lizardmen figurines are the primary evidence of the Lizardmen’s existence. These figurines are typically between 5 and 20 centimetres tall and are made of baked clay. The figurines depict humanoid figures with elongated heads, almond-shaped eyes, and lizard-like features such as scales, claws, and tails. The figurines are usually nude, and some have jewellery or headdresses.
The Lizardmen figurines were discovered in significant numbers in Ubaid archaeological sites, particularly in southern Iraq. The figurines were found in houses, tombs, and temples, suggesting that they were used for various purposes, such as religious ceremonies, offerings, or as children’s toys.
The main site where the unusual artifacts were discovered is called Tell Al’Ubaid – although figurines were also found in Ur and Eridu. The Al’Ubaid site is a small mound of about half a kilometre (0.3 mi) in diameter and two meters (6.56 ft) above ground. First excavated by Harry Reginald Hal in 1919, male and female figurines were found in different postures.
What Do the Ubaid Lizardmen Represent?
The lizard figurines appear to be wearing a helmet and have some kind of padding on the shoulders.
Here are some of the most commonly accepted explanations for the Lizardmen figurines.
Deities
One of the most common interpretations of the Lizardmen figurines is that they represent deities or supernatural beings. Some researchers believe that the elongated heads and almond-shaped eyes of the figurines represent otherworldly features. The lizard-like features of the figurines may also represent the power and agility of these supernatural beings.
The figurines’ placement in temples and tombs also supports this interpretation. The Lizardmen may have been worshipped as protectors, healers, or fertility deities. However, there is no concrete evidence to support this theory.
Shamans
Some researchers have also suggested that the lizardmen figurines may have been used in religious or shamanic rituals. In many cultures, shamanic practitioners use animal totems or spirit guides to connect with the spiritual realm, and these figurines may have served a similar purpose.
The elongated heads of the figurines may represent the ability to communicate with the spirit world or the wisdom of the deceased.
Mythology
Lizardmen figurines have been found in various parts of the world, from Central America to Southeast Asia. These figurines depict humanoid creatures with reptilian features, and they have been the subject of much interpretation and speculation.
One of the most common interpretations of these figurines is that they represent deities or mythological creatures from ancient cultures. In Central America, for example, the Aztecs worshipped a god named Quetzalcoatl, who was depicted as a feathered serpent. The lizardmen figurines found in this region may have been created to honour this god or other similar deities.
Shapeshifters
Another interpretation of the lizardmen figurines is that they represent shapeshifters or other supernatural beings. In many cultures, reptiles are associated with transformation and regeneration, and these figurines may have been created to symbolize these powers.
Ancient Astronaut theory
The Ancient Astronaut Theory, on the other hand, is the belief that ancient civilizations were visited by extra-terrestrial beings from another world. Proponents of this theory point to various ancient texts, artwork, and artifacts as evidence of this contact. Ancient texts such as the Bible, the Epic of Gilgamesh, and other ancient documents have been used to support the theory that advanced extra-terrestrial beings visited earth and helped to shape the development of early civilizations.
The connection between the Ubaid Lizardmen and the Ancient Astronaut Theory is that some researchers believe that the lizard-like figures may represent visitors from another world. This theory is based on the belief that the figurines have features that are not found in any known animal species on earth. Additionally, the figurines are often found in burial sites, which suggests they may have had spiritual or religious significance.
This theory is not without its critics, however. Some argue that the Ubaid Lizardmen are nothing more than artistic representations of the lizard-like creatures found in Mesopotamian mythology. Others argue that the figurines were simply made as toys or for entertainment purposes.
While the true purpose and meaning of the lizardmen figurines may never be known for certain, they offer a fascinating glimpse into the beliefs and practices of ancient cultures. Whether they represent deities, shapeshifters, or simply playful decorations, these figurines remind us of the enduring fascination with the mystical and the supernatural that has existed throughout human history.
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