The ecology of pastoralism / edited by P. Nick Kardulias.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Kardulias, P. Nick, editor.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Pastoral systems--Environmental aspects.

Pastoral systems--History.

Adaptation (Biology).

Adaptability (Psychology).

Human ecology.

Ethnology.

Ethnoarchaeology.

Social archaeology.

Landscape archaeology.

Pastoral systems.

History.

Physical Description:

xviii, 291 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Boulder, Colorado : University Press of Colorado, [2015]

Summary:

"In The Ecology of Pastoralism, a diverse group of contributions from archaeologists and ethnographers address pastoralism's significant impact on humanity's basic subsistence and survival, focusing on the network of social, political, and religious institutions existing within various societies dependent on animal husbandry. Pastoral peoples, both past and present, have organized their relationship with certain animals to maximize their ability to survive and adapt to a wide range of conditions over time. Despite differences in landscape, environment, and administrative and political structures, contributors show these societies share a major similar characteristic--high flexibility. Based partially on the adaptability of various domestic animals to difficult environments and partially on the ability of people to establish networks allowing them to accommodate political, social, and economic needs, this flexibility is key to survival of complex pastoral systems and serves as the connection among the varied cultures in the volume. Using archaeological and contemporary data, the wide variety of cases from a broad geographic sampling in The Ecology of Pastoralism offer a new perspective on the study of pastoralism that makes this volume a valuable contribution to current research in the area"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Introduction: Pastoralism as an Adaptive Strategy / P. Nick Kardulias

The Study of Nomads in the Republic of Kazakhstan / Claudia Chang

The Ecology of Inner Asian Pastoral Nomadism / Nikolay Kradin

Agropastoralism and Transhumance in Hunza / Homayun Sidky

Animals, Identity, and Mortuary Behavior in Late Bronze Age-Early Iron Age Mongolia : A Reassessment of Faunal Remains in Mortuary Monuments of Nomadic Pastoralists / Erik G. Johannesson

Kalas and Kurgans : Some Considerations on Late Iron Age Pastoralism within the Central Asian Oasis of Chorasmia / Michelle Negus Cleary

FulBe Pastoralists and the Neo-Patrimonial State in the Chad Basin / Mark Moritz

Flexibility in Navajo Pastoral Land Use : An Historical Perspective / Lawrence A. Kuznar

Accidental Dairy Farmers : Social Transformations in a Rural Irish Parish / Mark T. Shutes

Real Milk from Mechanical Cows : Adaptations among Irish Dairy Cattle Farmers / Mark T. Shutes

Island Pastoralism, Isolation, and Connection : An Ethnoarchaeological Study of Herding on Dokos, Greece / P. Nick Kardulias

The Ecology of Herding : Conclusions, Questions, Speculations / Thomas D. Hall.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781607323426

1607323427

OCLC:

895301956