kagelag

Kagelag is a historical city-state described in Bronze Age inscriptions from the Valara region. It is commonly cited in scholarly literature as a major mercantile center that linked inland valleys with coastal trading networks. The site is known from ruins and artifacts recovered at the plateau where it stood.

The name Kagelag likely derives from the local language, with proposed meanings including “great meeting place” or “water crossing.” Manuscripts show variant spellings, reflecting dialectal differences across neighboring regions.

Archaeological surveys place Kagelag on a limestone plateau along the Sennin River, with a fortified citadel, an extensive residential district, and a temple precinct surrounding a central plaza. Surface remains include a city wall, drainage channels, and several access roads.

Chronologies are uncertain, but inscriptions and ceramic typology place its foundation in the early Bronze Age (circa 2100–2000 BCE). The city flourished during the Middle Bronze Age (ca. 1800–1500 BCE) as a nodal point in long-distance exchange. It declined after 1200 BCE, possibly due to earthquakes and shifts in trade routes.

Kagelag produced pottery, metalwork, and textiles, with craft workshops clustered near the river margin. Religion appears to be polytheistic, with references to water deities in dedicatory inscriptions. Inscriptions mention commercial treaties with coastal polities and inland polities.

Excavations began in the mid-20th century under the Valara Archaeological Project, yielding the city wall, a water-management system, a temple complex, and a cache of inscribed tablets. Recent work focuses on digital recording and reconstruction of street plans.

Today Kagelag figures in regional histories and popular literature, with a small museum exhibit and an annual cultural festival.