Archaeobotanical evidence for the emergence of pastoralism and farming in southern Africa
Several models which remain equivocal and controversial cite migration and/or diffusion for the emergence and spread of pastoralism and farming in southern Africa during the first millennium AD. A synthesis of archaeobotanical proxies (e.g., palynology, phytoliths, anthracology) consistent with exis...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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W. Szafer Institute of Botany, Polish Academy of Sciences
2022-06-01
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| Series: | Acta Palaeobotanica |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://acpa.botany.pl/Archaeobotanical-evidence-for-the-emergence-of-pastoralism-and-farming-in-southern,151588,0,2.html |
| _version_ | 1797962875612954624 |
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| author | Jerry Oluwatobi Olatoyan Frank Harald Neumann Emuobosa Akpo Orijemie Christine Sievers Mary Evans Sinethemba Mvelase Tanya Hattingh Maria H. Schoeman |
| author_facet | Jerry Oluwatobi Olatoyan Frank Harald Neumann Emuobosa Akpo Orijemie Christine Sievers Mary Evans Sinethemba Mvelase Tanya Hattingh Maria H. Schoeman |
| author_sort | Jerry Oluwatobi Olatoyan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Several models which remain equivocal and controversial cite migration and/or diffusion for the
emergence and spread of pastoralism and farming in southern Africa during the first millennium AD. A synthesis
of archaeobotanical proxies (e.g., palynology, phytoliths, anthracology) consistent with existing archaeobotanical
and archaeological data leads to new insights into anthropogenic impacts in palaeorecords. Harnessing such
archaeobotanical evidence is viable for tracing the spread of pastoralism and farming in the first millennium
AD because the impact of anthropogenic practices is likely to result in distinct patterns of vegetation change.
We assess this impact through the synthesis of published archaeobotanical evidence of pastoralism and
farming, as well as vegetation changes in southern Africa during the first millennium AD. It has been argued
that the decline of forests during the first millennium AD in southern Africa predominantly relates to climate
change. This argument often precludes anthropogenic effects on vegetation. Our reassessment of the relationship
between vegetation, climate, and human activities in southern Africa reveals evidence of human impact during
the same period. We also highlight gaps in the current knowledge of early pastoralism and farming and potential
future research directions. We hypothesize that the pattern exhibited by the decline of forest tree pollen, coupled
with the increase of open-land indicators, the occurrence of pioneer trees, as well as the spores of coprophilous
fungi, and possible changes in the fire regime are reflective of, and consistent with, anthropogenic activities of
pre-European pastoralists and farmers. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T01:19:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7c2567a5e0b044baa40a91e39382d4bf |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2082-0259 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T01:19:35Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | W. Szafer Institute of Botany, Polish Academy of Sciences |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Acta Palaeobotanica |
| spelling | doaj.art-7c2567a5e0b044baa40a91e39382d4bf2023-01-03T11:31:27ZengW. Szafer Institute of Botany, Polish Academy of SciencesActa Palaeobotanica2082-02592022-06-01621507510.35535/acpa-2022-0005151588Archaeobotanical evidence for the emergence of pastoralism and farming in southern AfricaJerry Oluwatobi Olatoyan0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6872-7757Frank Harald Neumann1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3620-2742Emuobosa Akpo Orijemie2https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9016-708XChristine Sievers3https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5704-6913Mary Evans4https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1164-9932Sinethemba Mvelase5Tanya Hattingh6https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9596-9732Maria H. Schoeman7https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3680-4276School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies., University of the Witwatersrand, South AfricaGeology, School for Geo- and Spatial Science, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Science, North West University, South AfricaDepartment of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, NigeriaSchool of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies., University of the Witwatersrand, South AfricaSchool of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies., University of the Witwatersrand, South AfricaEvolutionary Studies Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, South AfricaSchool of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies., University of the Witwatersrand, South AfricaSchool of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies., University of the Witwatersrand, South AfricaSeveral models which remain equivocal and controversial cite migration and/or diffusion for the emergence and spread of pastoralism and farming in southern Africa during the first millennium AD. A synthesis of archaeobotanical proxies (e.g., palynology, phytoliths, anthracology) consistent with existing archaeobotanical and archaeological data leads to new insights into anthropogenic impacts in palaeorecords. Harnessing such archaeobotanical evidence is viable for tracing the spread of pastoralism and farming in the first millennium AD because the impact of anthropogenic practices is likely to result in distinct patterns of vegetation change. We assess this impact through the synthesis of published archaeobotanical evidence of pastoralism and farming, as well as vegetation changes in southern Africa during the first millennium AD. It has been argued that the decline of forests during the first millennium AD in southern Africa predominantly relates to climate change. This argument often precludes anthropogenic effects on vegetation. Our reassessment of the relationship between vegetation, climate, and human activities in southern Africa reveals evidence of human impact during the same period. We also highlight gaps in the current knowledge of early pastoralism and farming and potential future research directions. We hypothesize that the pattern exhibited by the decline of forest tree pollen, coupled with the increase of open-land indicators, the occurrence of pioneer trees, as well as the spores of coprophilous fungi, and possible changes in the fire regime are reflective of, and consistent with, anthropogenic activities of pre-European pastoralists and farmers.https://acpa.botany.pl/Archaeobotanical-evidence-for-the-emergence-of-pastoralism-and-farming-in-southern,151588,0,2.htmlpastoralismfarmingsouthern africaanthropogenic impactarchaeobotanytribulus spp |
| spellingShingle | Jerry Oluwatobi Olatoyan Frank Harald Neumann Emuobosa Akpo Orijemie Christine Sievers Mary Evans Sinethemba Mvelase Tanya Hattingh Maria H. Schoeman Archaeobotanical evidence for the emergence of pastoralism and farming in southern Africa Acta Palaeobotanica pastoralism farming southern africa anthropogenic impact archaeobotany tribulus spp |
| title | Archaeobotanical evidence for the emergence of pastoralism and farming in southern Africa |
| title_full | Archaeobotanical evidence for the emergence of pastoralism and farming in southern Africa |
| title_fullStr | Archaeobotanical evidence for the emergence of pastoralism and farming in southern Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Archaeobotanical evidence for the emergence of pastoralism and farming in southern Africa |
| title_short | Archaeobotanical evidence for the emergence of pastoralism and farming in southern Africa |
| title_sort | archaeobotanical evidence for the emergence of pastoralism and farming in southern africa |
| topic | pastoralism farming southern africa anthropogenic impact archaeobotany tribulus spp |
| url | https://acpa.botany.pl/Archaeobotanical-evidence-for-the-emergence-of-pastoralism-and-farming-in-southern,151588,0,2.html |
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