Human- environment interactions during the mid-late Holocene and the Anthropocene - lessons from NW Indian plains and Bengal Delta

2021 ◽  
pp. SP515-2020-122
Author(s):  
Yama Dixit ◽  
Sravani Biswas
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Change ◽  
Late Holocene ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Indian Subcontinent ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Environment Interaction ◽  
Indus Civilization ◽  
Human Environment ◽  
Bengal Delta

AbstractThe Indian subcontinent today houses about one- third of the global population and is one of the most vulnerable regions to future climate variability. This region has seen changes in civilizations, kingdoms and more recently political regimes, that were intricately linked to changing environment over mid-late Holocene. A comparative analysis of human-environment interaction within different regions at different time scales of the Quaternary is however lacking. In this paper we discuss the human-environment interactions taking case studies from two diverse time periods and geographically different regions from the Indian sub-continent. First, we review and analyze the role of environmental change in the evolution of Indus civilization on the northwestern Indian subcontinent during the mid-late Holocene and secondly, we discuss the role of both the anthropogenic activities and environmental change during the Anthropocene in shaping up the Bengal delta. Overall, during the mid-late Holocene, Indus cultural transformations were driven by natural environmental changes, whereas the anthropogenic activities in the last few centuries modified the Bengal deltaic landscape which intensified the impacts of natural disasters - in both cases a change in socio-political scenarios occurred. Such studies can be used as benchmarks to understand the future response of societies to environmental changes.

scholarly journals Developing a Chronology Integrating Archaeological and Environmental Data from Different Contexts: The Late Holocene Sequence of Ounjougou (Mali)

Radiocarbon ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
pp. 457-470 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sylvain Ozainne ◽  
Laurent Lespez ◽  
Yann Le Drezen ◽  
Barbara Eichhorn ◽  
Katharina Neumann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Late Holocene ◽  
Environmental Data ◽  
Human Environment ◽  
Current State ◽  
History Of ◽  
Anthropogenic Fires ◽  
Holocene Stratigraphy ◽  
State Of Research ◽  
A Site

At Ounjougou, a site complex situated in the Yamé River valley on the Bandiagara Plateau (Dogon country, Mali), multidisciplinary research has revealed a rich archaeological and paleoenvironmental sequence used to reconstruct the history of human-environment interactions, especially during the Late Holocene (3500–300 cal BC). Geomorphological, archaeological, and archaeobotanical data coming from different sites and contexts were combined in order to elaborate a chronocultural and environmental model for this period. Bayesian analysis of 54 14C dates included within the general Late Holocene stratigraphy of Ounjougou provides better accuracy for limits of the main chronological units, as well as for some particularly important events, like the onset of agriculture in the region. The scenario that can be proposed in the current state of research shows an increasing role of anthropogenic fires from the 3rd millennium cal BC onwards, and the appearance of food production during the 2nd millennium cal BC, coupled with a distinctive cultural break. The Late Holocene sequence ends around 300 cal BC with an important sedimentary hiatus that lasts until the end of the 4th century cal AD.

scholarly journals Remote Sensing Reveals Lasting Legacies of Land-Use by Small-Scale Foraging Communities in the Southwestern Indian Ocean

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dylan S. Davis ◽  
Kristina Douglass
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Land Use ◽  
Evolutionary Dynamics ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Environment Interaction ◽  
Human Environment ◽  
Landscape Modification ◽  
Geochemical Properties

Archaeologists interested in the evolution of anthropogenic landscapes have productively adopted Niche Construction Theory (NCT), in order to assess long-term legacies of human-environment interactions. Applications of NCT have especially been used to elucidate co-evolutionary dynamics in agricultural and pastoral systems. Meanwhile, foraging and/or highly mobile small-scale communities, often thought of as less intensive in terms of land-use than agropastoral economies, have received less theoretical and analytical attention from a landscape perspective. Here we address this lacuna by contributing a novel remote sensing approach for investigating legacies of human-environment interaction on landscapes that have a long history of co-evolution with highly mobile foraging communities. Our study is centered on coastal southwest Madagascar, a region inhabited by foraging and fishing communities for close to two millennia. Despite significant environmental changes in southwest Madagascar’s environment following human settlement, including a wave of faunal extinctions, little is known about the scale, pace and nature of anthropogenic landscape modification. Archaeological deposits in this area generally bear ephemeral traces of past human activity and do not exhibit readily visible signatures of intensive land-use and landscape modification (e.g., agricultural modifications, monumental architecture, etc.). In this paper we use high-resolution satellite imagery and vegetative indices to reveal a legacy of human-landscape co-evolution by comparing the characteristics – vegetative productivity and geochemical properties – of archaeological sites to those of locations with no documented archaeological materials. Then, we use a random forest (RF) algorithm and spatial statistics to quantify the extent of archaeological activity and use this analysis to contextualize modern-day human-environment dynamics. Our results demonstrate that coastal foraging communities in southwest Madagascar over the past 1,000 years have extensively altered the landscape. Our study thus expands the temporal and spatial scales at which we can evaluate human-environment dynamics on Madagascar, providing new opportunities to study early periods of the island’s human history when mobile foraging communities were the dominant drivers of landscape change.

scholarly journals Modern Pollen Assemblages in Typical Agro-Pastoral Ecotone in the Eastern Tibetan Plateau and Its Implications for Anthropogenic Activities

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronglei Duan ◽  
Haicheng Wei ◽  
Guangliang Hou ◽  
Jingyi Gao ◽  
Yongsheng Du ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Environment Interaction ◽  
Human Environment ◽  
Surface Pollen ◽  
Modern Pollen ◽  
Pollen Types ◽  
Poaceae Pollen ◽  
The Impact

Long-term evolution of human-environment interaction in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) has been discussed intensively in recent years. The identification of human-related pollen types may help explore the coupled process of climate change, ecological response and anthropogenic activities on the QTP. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of anthropogenic activities on surface pollen assemblages and identify pollen indicators associated with grazing and cultivation in typical agro-pastoral ecotone of the eastern QTP. Totally 84 surface samples were analyzed from five vegetational communities in the eastern QTP, which are identifiable based on surface pollen assemblages. Principal component analysis of 29 pollen types and two supplementary variables of human influences were used to assess the impact of anthropogenic activities on surface pollen assemblages in eastern QTP. Severe grazing led to increase of Rosaceae, Ranunculaceae, Fabaceae, Taraxacum-Type, Aster-type and Saussurea-Type in pollen assemblages. Highland agricultural cultivation can be identified by the content and morphological characteristic of Brassicaceae and Cerealia Poaceae pollen. The aerial dispersed distances of Brassicaceae and Cerealia Poaceae pollen are very short, and domesticated herbivores are important factors, which disperse the Cerealia Poaceae pollen into pastures in agro-pastoral ecotone of the QTP. Modern pollen indicators of cultivation and grazing activity will provide precise references for fossil pollen study of prehistoric human activities in the QTP.

scholarly journals PERUBAHAN LINGKUNGAN DAN EVOLUSI MANGROVE DI PULAU BELITUNG SELAMA HOLOSEN AKHIR BERDASARKAN REKAMAN POLEN

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Woro Sri Sukapti ◽  
Eko Yulianto ◽  
Praptisih Praptisih
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Change ◽  
Sea Level ◽  
Late Holocene ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Onset Time ◽  
Pollen Record ◽  
Shelf Area ◽  
Level Fluctuation ◽  
Sunda Shelf ◽  
Sea Level Fluctuation

Studi sejarah fluktuasi muka air laut dan perubahan lingkungan di Paparan Sunda masih sedikit dilakukan. Ada dua isu yang saling terkait yang menjadi permasalahan utama terkait dengan perubahan muka air laut di wilayah ini yaitu kurangnya rekaman data fluktuasi muka air laut dan perubahan lingkungan selama kurun waktu mid-late Holosen dengan kualitas yang bagus. Hal itu memiliki konsekwensi terhadap munculnya isu kedua yaitu tidak terdefinisikannya secara jelas dan tepat baik waktu maupun besaran posisi muka air laut pada saat mid-Holosen. Penelitian ini dilakukan untuk merekonstruksi perubahan lingkungan selama Holosen Akhir di wilayah Paparan Sunda menggunakan rekaman polen endapan mangrove. Pemboran tangan dilakukan guna pengamatan stratigrafi dan pengambilan sampel untuk analisis-analisis sedimentologi dan mikropaleontologi di laboratorium. Hasil studi ini menunjukkan bahwa perubahan lingkungan terjadi di Pulau Belitung selama setidaknya 1500 tahun terakhir sebagai akibat dari proses progradasi. Proses ini menyebabkan garis pantai terus maju hingga mencapai posisi saat ini. Endapan mangrove di lokasi penelitian juga merekam kejadian insidentil yang secara hipotetis diduga sebagai peristiwa tsunami akibat letusan Krakatau yang terjadi pada tahun 1883 AD dan sekitar 535-536 AD.Kata Kunci: Belitung, polen, mangrove, Mid-Holosen, Krakatau, muka laut, perubahan lingkungan.There is only minor study on sea-level fluctuation and environmental change in Sunda Shelf. The main isues in this area are lacking good quality of sea-level fluctuation and environmental change record during mid-late Holocene in which accordingly the onset time and sea-level height of the Mid-Holocene Maximum Transgression event have not been well defined. This study aims to reconstruct environmental changes during late Holocene in the Sunda Shelf area based on mangrove pollen record. Hand-auger was applied to make stratigraphic observation and sampling for sedimentological and micropaleontological analyses in the laboratory. Result of this study shows environmental changes occured within the last ca.1500 years due to coastal progradation in Belitung. This progradation shifted the coastal line seaward to attain the present position. The pollen record also reflects rapid and brief changes that may hypothetically be interpreted as the 535-536 AD and 1883 AD Krakatau tsunamis.Keywords: Belitung, pollen, mangroves, Mid-Holocene, Krakatau, sea level, environmental changes.

scholarly journals Sequence completed – palynological investigations on Lateglacial/Early Holocene environmental changes recorded in sequentially laminated lacustrine sediments of the Nahe palaeolake in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sascha Krüger ◽  
Morten Fischer Mortensen ◽  
Walter Dörfler
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Vegetation History ◽  
Lacustrine Sediments ◽  
Early Holocene ◽  
Laminated Sediments ◽  
Spatial Proximity ◽  
Environment Interaction ◽  
Human Environment ◽  
Complete Discussion ◽  
Laacher See Tephra

The exploration of Lateglacial vegetation history in Schleswig-Holstein is elaborate and comprehensive. Despite being one of the most studied areas, regarding to the Lateglacial, no biostratigraphy covering the complete Lateglacial and Early Holocene periods without hiatus have so far been recovered. In this paper we present a biostratigraphy of the Nahe palaeolake, therewith intending to deal with this desideratum.The special strength of the presented sequence is expressed in the fact that these are the only palynologically investigated sequentially annual laminated limnic sediments of the Lateglacial in Schleswig-Holstein. These laminated sediments, as well as radiocarbon dating of botanical macrofossils and three geochemically confirmed cryptotephra layers (Laacher See Tephra, Vedde Ash and Saksunarvatn Ash), provide excellent chronological control and allow for a Europe-wide correlation. Particularly important is a complete discussion of the vegetation history and the spatial proximity to Late Palaeolithic sites, which renders it possible to evaluate potential human-environment-interaction long before classical palynological human indicators occur.

Environmental change in Greater Australia

Antiquity ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 69 (265) ◽  
pp. 656-675 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Peter Kershaw
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Change ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Late Quaternary ◽  
Natural Landscape

Australia, a dry island continent in mid latitude, spans from tropical to cold temperate regions; long isolation has given it its own flora and fauna. Environmental changes in the late Quaternary have had their own and special courses in the continent and its several regions. The role of fires set by people is an important issue in the changing ‘natural’ landscape.

scholarly journals Adaptations and transformations of hunter-gatherers in forest environments: New archaeological and anthropological insights

The Holocene ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (10) ◽  
pp. 1531-1544 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Groß ◽  
Henny Piezonka ◽  
Erica Corradini ◽  
Ulrich Schmölcke ◽  
Marco Zanon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Western Siberia ◽  
Niche Construction ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Roe Deer ◽  
Environment Interaction ◽  
Archaeological Research ◽  
Hunter Gatherers ◽  
Human Environment ◽  
Critical Revision ◽  
Living Being

Like any other living being, humans constantly influence their environment, be it intentionally or unintentionally. By extracting natural resources, they shape their environment and also that of plants and other animals. A great difference setting people apart from all other living beings is the ability to construct and develop their own niche intentionally, and the unique tool for this is cultural behaviour. Here, we discuss anthropogenic environmental changes of hunter-gatherers and present new palaeoecological and palynological data. The studies are framed with ethnoarchaeological data from Western Siberia to gain a better understanding of how different triggers lead to coping mechanisms. For archaeological implication, we use two Mesolithic case studies from Germany: One of them focuses on hazelnut economy around ancient Lake Duvensee, and the other broaches the issue of selective roe deer hunt and its consequences at the site of Friesack. We address the archaeological evidence from the perspective of active alteration and its consequences, starting our argumentation from a perspective of niche construction theory. This approach has rarely been applied to early Holocene hunter-gatherers in Northern Europe even though the available data render possible to discuss human–environment interaction from such a perspective. It is demonstrated that archaeological research has tools at hand that enables to detect anthropogenic niche construction. However, the ethnoarchaeological example shows limitations and archaeologically invisible triggers and consequent results of human adaptations. The critical revision of such perspectives based on empirical data provides a better understanding of social and environmental transformations in the early- and mid-Holocene.

PALEOLIMNOLOGY OF THE MAYA LOWLANDS

2002 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 141-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Brenner ◽  
Michael F. Rosenmeier ◽  
David A. Hodell ◽  
Jason H. Curtis
Keyword(s):  
Late Holocene ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Yucatan Peninsula ◽  
Sediment Cores ◽  
Maya Lowlands ◽  
Holocene Climate ◽  
The Past ◽  
Yucatán Peninsula ◽  
Paleoclimate Records

Since the late 1950s, scientists have used sediment cores from lakes on the Yucatan Peninsula to explore the complex interactions among climate, environment, and ancient Maya culture. Early paleolimnological studies generally assumed that late Holocene climate was invariable. Consequently, paleolimnologically inferred environmental changes that occurred during the past 3,000 years or so—for example, forest decline and soil erosion—were attributed wholly to anthropogenic activities such as land clearance for agriculture and construction. Recent high-resolution, proxy-based paleoclimate records from continental and insular sites around the Caribbean Sea contradict the assumption of late Holocene climate stability. Instead, these core data suggest that regional drying began about 3,000 years ago and that the past three millennia were characterized by variable moisture availability. Paleoclimate inferences from Lakes Chichancanab and Punta Laguna, northern Yucatan Peninsula, indicate that drought events over the past 2,600 years were cyclical. These dry events, thought to have been driven by solar forcing, appear to have occurred approximately every two centuries (about 208 years). The driest period of the late Holocene occurred between A.D. 800 and 1000, coincident with the Classic Maya Collapse. We review the history of paleolimnological studies in the Maya Lowlands, discuss the difficulty of differentiating climatic signals from anthropogenic signals in late Holocene lake sediment profiles, and assess current understanding of past climate changes in the region based on regional lacustrine sediment studies.

scholarly journals Shell mounds as the basis for understanding human-environment interactions in far north Queensland, Australia

2013 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
pp. 65 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. S. Shiner ◽  
P. C. Fanning ◽  
S. J. Holdaway ◽  
F. Petchey ◽  
C. Beresford ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Late Holocene ◽  
Significant Contribution ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Human Occupation ◽  
Human Environment ◽  
Far North ◽  
Shell Mounds ◽  
History Of ◽  
Anadara Granosa ◽  
Level Of Analysis

<p>The Weipa shell mounds have a long history of archaeological research that has made a significant contribution to our understanding of the emergence of late Holocene coastal economies in northern Australia. However, much of this work has focused on broad comparisons of mounds between multiple locations rather than detailed studies of multiple mounds from single locations. This level of analysis is required to understand the record of both human occupation and environmental change and how these have given rise to the form of archaeological record visible in the present. In this paper we describe the results of a recent pilot study of four <em>Anadara granosa</em>-dominated shell mounds at Wathayn Outstation near Weipa in far north Queensland. We adopt a formational approach that investigates variability in shape, size, orientation, stratigraphy, shell fragmentation and diversity and mound chronology, as well as dating of the surfaces upon which the mounds have been constructed. Results indicate multiple periods of shell accumulation in each mound, separated by hiatuses. The mounds are the end product of a complex mix of processes that include how often and how intensively mounds were used and reused, together with the nature of the shell populations that people exploited and the post-depositional environmental changes that have occurred over the centuries the mounds have existed.</p>

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document