Science Alert October 28, 2019
New research by an international team of researchers (Japan, Germany) suggests that the Akkadian Empire, based around the city of Akkad in ancient Mesopotamia, may have been brought low by a more unusual cause: dust storms. Fossil samples are windows in time showing that variations in climate significantly contributed to the empire’s decline. Meteorological conditions together, and a harsh environment for growing crops appears, one that most likely lead to civil unrest and societal collapse. All of which means a greater insight not just into the past, but into the changing climate conditions today. Just like the Akkadians, we’re finding extreme weather conditions becoming more frequent, and causing certain regions to become more inhospitable…read more. TECHNICAL ARTICLE
One of the examined fossils. Credit: Hokkaido University