Making History - First Organized Societies
Phaeselis is built on a prior, prehistoric settlement called Aine Gazal. In fact, some of the prehistoric ruins still exist, as there is an extensive prehistoric canal system running to Phaeselis that provides running water to much of the Halflingvale section and flows into Phaeselis' Southeastern quarter itself.
The city is deep under Phaeselis' Southwestern Quarter, as the ground next to a waterfall was desirable amongst other people. The place is forboding and dangerous, as no one could tell what is there. But so far, the only danger from Aine Gazal is crysmals who burrow through the earth. However, people think there is treasure in the place, and there is really not. The caves connected to Aine Gazal actually harbor monsters, including one Caller in the Darkness.
In the Real World[]
'Ain Ghazal is a Neolithic site located in North-Western Jordan, on the outskirts of Amman. It dates as far back as 7250 BC, and was inhabited until 5000 BC. At 15 hectares (37 ac), 'Ain Ghazal ranks as one of the largest known prehistoric settlements in the Near East.
Settlement[]
In its prime era circa 7000 BCE, it extended over 10-15 hectares (25–37 ac) and was inhabited by ca. 3000 people (four to five times contemporary Jericho). After 6500 BC, however, the population dropped sharply to about one sixth within only a few generations, probably due to environmental degradation (Köhler-Rollefson 1992).
'Ain Ghazal started as a typical aceramic Neolithic village of modest size. It was set on terraced ground at a valley-side, and was built with rectangular mud-brick houses that accommodated a square main room and a smaller anteroom. Walls were plastered with mud on the outside, and with lime plaster inside that was renewed every few years.
Being an early farming community, the 'Ain Ghazal people cultivated cereals (barley and a prehistoric species of wheat), legumens (peas, beans and lentils) and chickpeas in fields above the village, and herded domesticated goats. However, they also still hunted wild animals - deer, gazelle, equids, pigs and smaller mammals such as fox or hare.