Premium
Global perspectives on the impact of drastic environmental changes in hunter‐gatherer technologies
Author(s) -
Bicho Nuno,
Cascalheira João
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of quaternary science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.142
H-Index - 94
eISSN - 1099-1417
pISSN - 0267-8179
DOI - 10.1002/jqs.3003
Subject(s) - hunter gatherer , mesolithic , climate change , lithic technology , archaeology , emerging technologies , geography , ecology , computer science , biology , artificial intelligence
Researchers have long debated the impact of climate change on human culture and particularly in hunter‐gatherer societies. Climate drifts, particularly abrupt ones, have been continuingly seen as major prompts for rapid technological and cultural innovation. Recent advances in paleoclimatic reconstructions and ongoing developments in the quality and chronological resolution of archeological data have allowed a better understanding of the extent to which patterns of specific environmental changes triggered modifications in the technological systems of hunter‐gatherers. This volume brings together contributions addressing strategic changes in the organization of hunter‐gatherer technologies as a response to drastic environmental shifts. It includes topics such as lithic, organic tools and ceramic production, pyrotechnology, hunting strategies, pigment processing, use of plants and adornments, starting with Middle Stone Age and ending with Mesolithic and coming from a diversity of geographical contexts. This introduction to the volume provides a general view on the continuing debate over cause and effect in the interplay between humans and climate with the aim to provide a better understanding of the role and magnitude of environmental determinism in the archeology of hunter‐gatherers.