OLDUlar

Oldular is a term used in speculative archaeology and world-building to designate an imagined Bronze Age–style civilization. It is not real, but a construct used to explore urbanization, state organization, and long-distance exchange in a fictitious archipelago and adjacent mainland. Descriptions commonly feature planned settlements, monumental architecture, and ceremonial complexes.

Etymology and scope: The name Oldular is a constructed label with varying proposed roots across different works; there is no single canonical origin.

History and geography: In many depictions, Oldular flourished roughly between 1500 and 600 BCE, with major centers along coastlines and river valleys. Political life is portrayed as centralized with regional governors; trade networks connect inland and maritime communities. The civilization often declines due to climate stress, resource strain, or external pressure, leaving substantial ruins.

Culture and technology: Bronze metallurgy, standardized pottery, and textiles appear in the material record. Iconography tends toward geometric motifs and celestial symbolism. Inscriptions, when present, appear on stone tablets or seals and may document calendars, governance, or trade.

Archaeology and reception: Excavations yield city walls, terraces, kilns, and tablets. Dating relies on stratigraphy and radiocarbon methods. In scholarship and fiction alike, Oldular serves as a test case for how ancient states could emerge, administer diverse communities, and disappear.