1 research outputs found
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 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