Carumid civilization
The Carumids were an ancient civilization that flourished between c. 3000 bAN and 1700 bAN in the western regions of Northern Keltia. Known for their highly stratified society, monumental architecture, and intricate religious practices, the Carumid state was one of the most influential early powers of the continent’s northwestern quadrant.
Geography and Capital
The Carumid civilization was centered in what is now considered western Northern Keltia, a region characterized by rugged highlands, fertile river valleys, and rich mineral deposits. Their capital city, Tullaraš, was strategically located near the confluence of two major rivers and served as both the political and religious heart of the state.
Culture and Society
Carumid culture bore the hallmarks of a complex and centralized society. At its core was a divine kingship, where rulers were seen as the earthly representatives of the storm and sun deities. Their society was rigidly hierarchical, composed of nobles, priests, artisans, soldiers, and a large agricultural labor class.
Carumid religious life revolved around a pantheon of gods and goddesses representing elements of nature, time, and fate. Temples built with large stone blocks—often aligned with celestial patterns—served as focal points for rituals, festivals, and sacrificial offerings.
Language and Script
The Carumids developed an advanced syllabic writing system, primarily used for religious texts, legal codes, and administrative records. These inscriptions were typically carved on clay tablets and stone steles. Their language, though now extinct, has been partially reconstructed through comparative analysis with neighboring linguistic groups of the Keltian highlands.
Architecture and Engineering
Monumental architecture was a hallmark of Carumid cities. Their temple-complexes, palace structures, and defensive walls display a mastery of megalithic construction techniques. Stone roadways and aqueducts suggest a high level of engineering sophistication, particularly in urban planning and water management.
Economy and Trade The Carumids maintained a mixed economy based on cereal agriculture, metallurgy, and long-distance trade. Copper and tin from local mines allowed for the production of high-quality bronze tools and ceremonial items. Trade routes linked Carumid cities to neighboring highland and coastal cultures, enabling the exchange of goods such as textiles, obsidian, and incense.
Decline and Legacy
By around 1700 bAN, the Carumid state began to fragment due to a combination of internal dynastic strife, shifting trade routes, and environmental pressures such as prolonged drought. Tullaraš was gradually abandoned, and the Carumid heartlands gave way to smaller successor kingdoms and tribal confederations.
Despite their disappearance as a political entity, the Carumids left a lasting cultural legacy in mythology, architecture, and statecraft that influenced later polities of Northern Keltia. Many sacred sites continued to be revered long after the fall of the Carumid dynasty.
