The influence of enhanced post-glacial coastal margin productivity on the emergence of complex societies
We analyze the dynamics of post-glacial coastal margin (CM) productivity and explore how it affected the emergence of six complex CM societies. Following deglaciation, global relative sea level stabilized after ~7000 BP and CM productivity significantly increased in many areas. Primary and secondary...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2013
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| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10356/99559 http://hdl.handle.net/10220/12970 |
| _version_ | 1811696374627958784 |
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| author | Day Jr., John W. Gunn, Joel D. Folan, William J. Yáñez-Arancibia, Alejandro. Horton, Benjamin P. |
| author_facet | Day Jr., John W. Gunn, Joel D. Folan, William J. Yáñez-Arancibia, Alejandro. Horton, Benjamin P. |
| author_sort | Day Jr., John W. |
| collection | NTU |
| description | We analyze the dynamics of post-glacial coastal margin (CM) productivity and explore how it affected the emergence of six complex CM societies. Following deglaciation, global relative sea level stabilized after ~7000 BP and CM productivity significantly increased in many areas. Primary and secondary productivity (fish) likely increased by an order of magnitude or more. Aquatic animals were readily available in the CM providing sources of polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids, high-quality protein, and nutrients, especially essential to human nutrition. In all six case studies, mature CMs appear to have been occupied by Neolithic agricultural and fishing villages within ~500 years of sea-level stabilization. Within a few hundred years population densities increased and roughly a millennium later social ranking and monumental architecture appeared. Sea-level stabilization and increased CM productivity in conjunction with agricultural intensification in lower alluvial floodplains were major contributors to the origins of many complex CM societies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-10-01T07:38:21Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | ntu-10356/99559 |
| institution | Nanyang Technological University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-10-01T07:38:21Z |
| publishDate | 2013 |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | ntu-10356/995592020-03-07T12:45:26Z The influence of enhanced post-glacial coastal margin productivity on the emergence of complex societies Day Jr., John W. Gunn, Joel D. Folan, William J. Yáñez-Arancibia, Alejandro. Horton, Benjamin P. We analyze the dynamics of post-glacial coastal margin (CM) productivity and explore how it affected the emergence of six complex CM societies. Following deglaciation, global relative sea level stabilized after ~7000 BP and CM productivity significantly increased in many areas. Primary and secondary productivity (fish) likely increased by an order of magnitude or more. Aquatic animals were readily available in the CM providing sources of polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids, high-quality protein, and nutrients, especially essential to human nutrition. In all six case studies, mature CMs appear to have been occupied by Neolithic agricultural and fishing villages within ~500 years of sea-level stabilization. Within a few hundred years population densities increased and roughly a millennium later social ranking and monumental architecture appeared. Sea-level stabilization and increased CM productivity in conjunction with agricultural intensification in lower alluvial floodplains were major contributors to the origins of many complex CM societies. 2013-08-05T02:56:15Z 2019-12-06T20:08:50Z 2013-08-05T02:56:15Z 2019-12-06T20:08:50Z 2012 2012 Journal Article Day, J. W., Gunn, J. D., Folan, W. J., Yáñez-Arancibia, A., & Horton, B. P. (2012). The Influence of Enhanced Post-Glacial Coastal Margin Productivity on the Emergence of Complex Societies. The Journal of Island and Coastal Archaeology, 7(1), 23-52. https://hdl.handle.net/10356/99559 http://hdl.handle.net/10220/12970 10.1080/15564894.2011.650346 en The journal of island and coastal archaeology |
| spellingShingle | Day Jr., John W. Gunn, Joel D. Folan, William J. Yáñez-Arancibia, Alejandro. Horton, Benjamin P. The influence of enhanced post-glacial coastal margin productivity on the emergence of complex societies |
| title | The influence of enhanced post-glacial coastal margin productivity on the emergence of complex societies |
| title_full | The influence of enhanced post-glacial coastal margin productivity on the emergence of complex societies |
| title_fullStr | The influence of enhanced post-glacial coastal margin productivity on the emergence of complex societies |
| title_full_unstemmed | The influence of enhanced post-glacial coastal margin productivity on the emergence of complex societies |
| title_short | The influence of enhanced post-glacial coastal margin productivity on the emergence of complex societies |
| title_sort | influence of enhanced post glacial coastal margin productivity on the emergence of complex societies |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10356/99559 http://hdl.handle.net/10220/12970 |
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