Lithic Artefacts as a Source of Cultural, Social and Economic Information: the evidence from Aksum, Ethiopia

Phillipson, Laurel

doi:10.1007/s10437-009-9043-7

Cited by 11 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 7 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Demographic history in Africa has also been influenced by the more recent migration of nonAfricans into Africa. Most noteworthy is the migration of southwestern Asians into Northern and Eastern Africa within the past 3000 years (Van Beek 1967;Butzer 1981;Phillipson 2009). Europeans, southern and eastern Asians have also migrated into Southern Africa within the past several hundred years.…”

Section: Patterns Of Genetic Diversity and Demographic History In Africamentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic Variation and Adaptation in Africa: Implications for Human Evolution and Disease

Gomez

Hirbo

Tishkoff

2014

Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology

109

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Because modern humans originated in Africa and have adapted to diverse environments, African populations have high levels of genetic and phenotypic diversity. Thus, genomic studies of diverse African ethnic groups are essential for understanding human evolutionary history and how this leads to differential disease risk in all humans. Comparative studies of genetic diversity within and between African ethnic groups creates an opportunity to reconstruct some of the earliest events in human population history and are useful for identifying patterns of genetic variation that have been influenced by recent natural selection. Here we describe what is currently known about genetic variation and evolutionary history of diverse African ethnic groups. We also describe examples of recent natural selection in African genomes and how these data are informative for understanding the frequency of many genetic traits, including those that cause disease susceptibility in African populations and populations of recent African descent.

show abstract

Section: Patterns Of Genetic Diversity and Demographic History In Africamentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic Variation and Adaptation in Africa: Implications for Human Evolution and Disease

Gomez

Hirbo

Tishkoff

2014

Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology

109

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Flaked stone tools continued to be manufactured and used throughout this period in the northern Horn (D. Michels 2005: 55-81;Teka & Okubatsion 2008;L. Phillipson 2000L. Phillipson , 2009a; there are hints of their presence at this time in southern Arabia also (e.g., Crassard 2008: 171-184), but further research is necessary to confirm this and to demonstrate the degree of affinity between the lithic industries of the two regions.…”

mentioning

confidence: 88%

The First Millennium bc in the Highlands of Northern Ethiopia and South–Central Eritrea: A Reassessment of Cultural and Political Development

Phillipson

2009

Afr Archaeol Rev

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

An overview is offered of the development of research-both archaeological and epigraphic-on the inhabitants of the northern Horn during the first millennium BC. Initially, reconstructions of this period placed considerable emphasis on links with southern Arabia and tended to group those into a single cultural category that was designated 'Pre-Aksumite'. It is now argued that long-distance contacts were much less pervasive, being largely restricted to the élite, and that other aspects of life-including much material culture and subsistence economydisplayed strong local continuity from earlier times. Similarly, it is argued that interpretation of the epigraphic evidence as indicating a single 'Pre-Aksumite' state called D'MT is unjustified.Résumé On fait une revue du développement de la recherche archéologique et epigraphique sur les habitants des régions septentrionales de la Corne de l'Afrique pendant le premier millénaire avant notre ère. Autrefois, les interprétations tendaient à mettre en exergue les relations avec l'Arabie du sud, et considérer toutes ces populations comme appartenant à un seul groupe culturel 'pré-aksoumite'. On préfère aujourd'hui soutenir que les contacts de longue distance étaient pour la plupart limités aux élites, et que les autres dimensions de la vie sociale -les outils lithiques, la culture matérielle, et les moyens de subsistance notamment -présentent des continuités appréciables avec les périodes antérieures. On considère de même qu' il n'y a pas de raison pour interpréter les textes épigraphiques comme indicatifs d'un seul état 'pré-aksoumite' nommé D'MT.

show abstract

“…How might it compare with material from first millennium BC sites in Tigray? Unfortunately, with the exception of Kidane Mehret, very little detailed analysis or reporting of chipped stone tools from first millennium BC contexts in Tigray appear in publication (but see D. W. Phillipson 2009, L. Phillipson 2000, 2009a. Thus, only very general contrasts and comparisons between regions can be made.…”

Section: Lithicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A range of scraper types, small backed blades, and highly standardized crescent forms characterize the "Pre-Aksumite" assemblage recovered at Kidane Mehret (L. Phillipson , 2009a. Obsidian, chert, quartz, and siltstone are all present in the assemblage, with obsidian the favored raw material.…”

Section: Lithicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Relating the Ancient Ona Culture to the Wider Northern Horn: Discerning Patterns and Problems in the Archaeology of the First Millennium BC

Curtis

2009

Afr Archaeol Rev

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Archaeological research carried out between 1998 and 2003 on the Asmara Plateau of Eritrea has provided new insights concerning the development of early-to-mid first millennium BC settled agropastoral communities in the northern Horn of Africa. The settlement, subsistence, and material culture of these communities in the greater Asmara area, referred to as the "Ancient Ona culture," bear both unique qualities and striking similarities to coeval communities in Tigray, Ethiopia. This article provides an overview of regional settlement data and ceramic and lithic traditions from the greater Asmara area, drawing comparisons to other contexts of this period in the archaeology of the wider northern Horn. It is argued that we can see among the Ancient Ona sites distinct localized cultural expressions and development as well as strong links to a wider first millennium BC macrocultural identity.Résumé Des recherches archéologiques conduites entre 1998 et 2003 dans le plateau d'Asmara en Érythrée ont produit des nouvelles informations sur le développement des communautés agro-pastorales dans la première moitié du premier millenaire av. J.-C. dans la Corne de l´Afrique. Le mode d´occupation du territoire, les moyens de subsistance, et la culture matérielle des communautés de la région d´Asmara -que l'on appelle 'culture Ona ancienne' -ressemblent, malgré leurs particularités, aux communautés vivant à la même époque dans le Tigray (Ethiopie). Cet article présente une revue des données sur l´occupation de l'espace au niveau régional et des traditions lithiques et céramiques de la région d´Asmara, qui sont comparées à lumière d´autres contextes archéologiques de la Corne de l'Afrique datant de la même période. On suggère que les sites de la culture Ona Afr Archaeol Rev (2009) 26:327-350 DOI 10.1007 M. C. Curtis (*) Department of Anthropology, University of California, Santa Barbara, 2001 Humanities and Social Sciences Building, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-3210, USA e-mail: matthew-curtis@sbcglobal.net ancienne présentent des expressions culturelles et développements très localisés ainsi que de fortes attaches à une identité macro-culturelle en vigueur à de plus vastes échelles durant le premier millenaire av. J.-C.

show abstract

Lithic Artefacts as a Source of Cultural, Social and Economic Information: the evidence from Aksum, Ethiopia

Cited by 11 publications

References 7 publications

Genetic Variation and Adaptation in Africa: Implications for Human Evolution and Disease

Genetic Variation and Adaptation in Africa: Implications for Human Evolution and Disease

The First Millennium bc in the Highlands of Northern Ethiopia and South–Central Eritrea: A Reassessment of Cultural and Political Development

Relating the Ancient Ona Culture to the Wider Northern Horn: Discerning Patterns and Problems in the Archaeology of the First Millennium BC

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About