Climate change and cultural dynamics : a global perspective on mid-Holocene transitions / edited by David G. Anderson, Kirk A. Maasch, Daniel H. Sandweiss.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Anderson, David G.

Maasch, Kirk A. (Kirk Allen)

Sandweiss, Daniel H.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Climatic changes--Research.

Climatic changes.

Global warming--Research.

Global warming.

Paleoclimatology--Holocene.

Paleoclimatology.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (603 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Amsterdam ; London : Elsevier, 2007.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

The Middle Holocene epoch (8,000 to 3,000 years ago) was a time of dramatic changes in the physical world and in human cultures. Across this span, climatic conditions changed rapidly, with cooling in the high to mid-latitudes and drying in the tropics. In many parts of the world, human groups became more complex, with early horticultural systems replaced by intensive agriculture and small-scale societies being replaced by larger, more hierarchical organizations. Climate Change and Cultural Dynamics explores the cause and effect relationship between climatic change and cultural transformation

Contents:

Front cover; Climate Change and Cultural Dynamics; Copyright page; Contents; List of Contributors; List of Figures; List of Tables; Preface and Acknowledgments; Foreword; Chapter 1. Climate and culture change: exploring Holocene transitions; 1. Introduction; 2. Holocene climate change; 3. Possible causes of Holocene climate change; 4. Lessons from the past for the future; 5. Linkages between climate and culture change; 6. Conclusion; References; Chapter 2. Mid-Holocene climate and culture change in coastal Peru; 1. Introduction

2. The Peruvian archaeological record of Holocene El Niño frequency variation 3. Mid-Holocene climate from natural archives; 4. Cultural records; 5. Conclusions; References; Chapter 3. Mid-Holocene climate and culture change in the South Central Andes; 1. Introduction; 2. The physiogeographical setting; 3. Habitats for human occupation in the Atacama Desert; 4. Mid-Holocene aridity: Hostile conditions and scarce resources around 5000 cal yr BP; 5. Archaic settlement patterns and paleoenvironmental variability; Acknowledgments; References

Chapter 4. Mid-Holocene climate and cultural dynamics in Brazil and the Guianas 1. Introduction; 2. The coastal strip; 3. Amazonia; 4. Conclusion; References; Chapter 5. Culture and climate in Mesoamerica during the Middle Holocene; 1. Introduction; 2. Chronology; 3. Paleoclimate; 4. Prehistory; 5. Conclusions; Acknowledgments; References; Chapter 6. Middle Holocene environments of north and east Africa, with special emphasis on the African Sahara; 1. Introduction; 2. Tropical Africa; 3. The Sahara; 4. Discussion; Acknowledgement; References

Chapter 7. Influence of Holocene marine transgression and climate change on cultural evolution in southern Mesopotamia ;1. Introduction; 2. Postglacial environmental change in southern Mesopotamia; 3. State development in southern Mesopotamia; 4. Discussion; 5. Conclusions; Acknowledgments; References; Chapter 8. Mid-Holocene cultural dynamics and climatic change in the Western Pacific; 1. Introduction; 2. Regional climatology; 3. Climatic and environmental change in the mid-Holocene; 4. Cultural change in mid- to late Holocene Australia; 5. Highland New Guinea agriculture; 6. Some conclusions

Acknowledgments References; Chapter 9. Mid-Holocene climate and cultural dynamics in eastern Central China; 1. Introduction; 2. Paleoclimate of the mid-Holocene in eastern Central China; 3. Cultural dynamics in eastern Central China; 4. Discussion: paleoclimates, paleoenvironments and cultural dynamics in the mid-Holocene in eastern Central China; 5. Conclusions; References; Chapter 10. Mid-Holocene climatic changes and cultural dynamics in the basin of the Sea of Japan and adjacent areas; 1. Introduction; 2. Climatic and environmental changes

3. Cultural dynamics in the mid-Holocene in the basin of the Sea of Japan

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

1-281-07676-7

9786611076764

0-08-055455-5

OCLC:

476128814