Understanding the evolution of the Holocene Pluvial Phase and its impact on Neolithic populations in south‐east Arabia

Preston, Gareth W.; Parker, Adrian

doi:10.1111/aae.12006

Cited by 18 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…A broad correspondence between phases of reduced precipitation inferred from the Hoti Cave δ 18 O record at ~7.5 -7.2 and ~6.5 -6.3 ka BP, and possible reductions in human activity (Fig. 9) has been noted in several recent publications (Parker and Preston, 2008;Preston et al, 2012;Preston and Parker, 2013). It is, however, acknowledged that such finer grained trends should not be overstated at this stage and remain speculative.…”

Section: Climate -Human Implications During the Neolithicmentioning

confidence: 77%

A multi-proxy analysis of the Holocene humid phase from the United Arab Emirates and its implications for southeast Arabia's Neolithic populations

Preston

Thomas

Goudie

et al. 2015

Quaternary International

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An early-to mid-Holocene humid phase has been identified in various Arabian geoarchives, although significant regional heterogeneity has been reported in the onset, duration and stability of this period. A multi-proxy lake and dune record from Wahalah in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) documents significant variations in hydrology, biological productivity and landscape stability during the first half of the Holocene. These data reveal that post-Last Glacial Maximum dune emplacement continued into the earliest part of the Holocene, with the onset of permanent lacustrine sedimentation at the site commencing ~8.5 ka cal. BP. A long-term shift towards more arid conditions is inferred between ~7.8 -5.9 ka cal. BP, with intermittent flooding of the basin and distinct phases of instability throughout the catchment area. This transition is linked to the southwards migration of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) and associated weakening of monsoon rains. A peak in landscape instability is recorded between ~5.9 -5.3 ka cal. BP and is marked by a pronounced increase in regional dune emplacement. These variations are considered alongside the record of human settlement raising important questions *Manuscript Click here to view linked References about the interactions between population demographics, climate and environment in southeast Arabia during the Neolithic.

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Section: Climate -Human Implications During the Neolithicmentioning

confidence: 77%

A multi-proxy analysis of the Holocene humid phase from the United Arab Emirates and its implications for southeast Arabia's Neolithic populations

Preston

Thomas

Goudie

et al. 2015

Quaternary International

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“…The climatic downturn between ∼8.2 and 8.0 ka BP has been linked to the transition between the earliest Holocene "Qatar B/ Fasad" phase and the preceding Neolithic "Arabian Bifacial Tradition" (ABT), which has been interpreted as a shift from hunting and gathering to herding (33), though skepticism has been raised about the pan-Arabian nature of this transition (34). The return to humid conditions around 8 ka corresponds with evidence for an expansion of Neolithic occupation in southeastern Arabia and the establishment of productive herder-fisher communities along the eastern Arabian littoral (30,35,36). Further abrupt shifts to drier conditions are also recorded at ∼7.5 to 7.2 ka and ∼6.5 to 6.3 ka, and seem to correspond with declines in human occupation ( Fig.…”

Section: Significancementioning

confidence: 99%

Human responses to climate and ecosystem change in ancient Arabia

Petraglia

Groucutt

Guagnin

et al. 2020

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Recent interdisciplinary archaeological and paleoenvironmental research in the Arabian peninsula is transforming our understanding of ancient human societies in their ecological contexts. Hypotheses about the cultural and demographic impacts of a series of droughts have primarily been developed from the environmental and archaeological records of southeastern Arabia. Here we examine these human–environment interactions by integrating ongoing research from northern Arabia. While droughts and extreme environmental variability in the Holocene had significant impacts on human societies, responses varied across space and time and included mobility at various scales, as well as diverse social, economic and cultural adaptations, such as the management of water resources, the introduction of pastoral lifeways, and the construction of diverse types of stone structures. The long-term story of human societies in Arabia is one of resilience in the face of climate change, yet future challenges include rising temperatures and flash flooding. The history of human responses to climatic and ecosystem changes in Arabia can provide important lessons for a planet facing catastrophic global warming and environmental change.

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“…These records show that the Pleistocene-Holocene transition was characterized by significant hydrological shifts toward more mesic conditions throughout the SWIO. Wetter conditions during the Early Holocene likely drove social and ecological changes in the broader Indian Ocean region (49,50). Despite an overall shift toward wetter conditions, successive dry and wet phases characterize the SWIO Holocene record (51)(52)(53)(54)(55).…”

Section: Case Study 2-swio Islandsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Archaeology, environmental justice, and climate change on islands of the Caribbean and southwestern Indian Ocean

Douglass

Cooper

2020

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Climate change impacts island communities all over the world. Sea-level rise, an increase in the frequency and intensity of severe weather events, and changes in distribution and health of marine organisms are among the most significant processes affecting island communities worldwide. On islands of the Caribbean and southwestern Indian Ocean (SWIO), however, today’s climate change impacts are magnified by historical environmental injustice and colonial legacies, which have heightened the vulnerability of human and other biotic communities. For some islands, archaeological and paleoecological research offers an important record of precolonial climate change and its interplay with human lives and landscapes. The archaeological record suggests strategies and mechanisms that can inform discussions of resilience in the face of climate change. We detail climate-related challenges facing island Caribbean and SWIO communities using archaeological and paleoecological evidence for past climate change and human response and argue that these cannot be successfully addressed without an understanding of the processes that have, over time, disrupted livelihoods, reshaped land- and seascapes, threatened intergenerational ecological knowledge transfer, and led to increased inequality and climate vulnerability.

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Understanding the evolution of the Holocene Pluvial Phase and its impact on Neolithic populations in south‐east Arabia

Cited by 18 publications

References 41 publications

A multi-proxy analysis of the Holocene humid phase from the United Arab Emirates and its implications for southeast Arabia's Neolithic populations

A multi-proxy analysis of the Holocene humid phase from the United Arab Emirates and its implications for southeast Arabia's Neolithic populations

Human responses to climate and ecosystem change in ancient Arabia

Archaeology, environmental justice, and climate change on islands of the Caribbean and southwestern Indian Ocean

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