[curtis]

> what kept the mesopotamians away from farming from 20000-10000 years ago?

Actually, this is one that we do have a good answer for: The most recent Ice Age was still well in effect during that time period.

[improbable22]

Ah right, I forgot about that! Not that Iraq was anywhere near an ice sheet, but it was a whole lot drier.

Still, is the argument that there were no climatically suitable zones in 20k.BC? That they were smaller, too small for some critical mass of proto-farmers?