High-resolution Bronze Age palaeoenvironmental change in the Eastern Mediterranean: exploring the links between climate and societies

Hazell, Calian J.; Pound, Matthew J.; Hocking, Emma P.

doi:10.1080/01916122.2022.2067259

Cited by 4 publications

(3 citation statements)

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“…This is probably the main reason why, despite recognizable environmental effects on food production, attempts of generalizations over wider spatial and temporal units proved invalid [ 79 , 129 , 130 ]. In particular, the role of ‘Rapid Climate Change’ events on human societies, while potentially having devastating effects on short-term production capacity, is regionally unclear [ 131 ]. In a similar vein, collapse and destruction of settlements, willingly attributed to natural catastrophes or martial invasions require local re-evaluation [ 132 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Agropastoral and dietary practices of the northern Levant facing Late Holocene climate and environmental change: Isotopic analysis of plants, animals and humans from Bronze to Iron Age Tell Tweini

Fuller,

Riehl,

Linseele

et al. 2024

PLoS ONE

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One of the largest isotopic datasets of the ancient Eastern Mediterranean region is evaluated, based on plants (n = 410), animals (n = 210) and humans (n = 16) from Tell Tweini (Syria). Diachronic analysis of plant and faunal specimens from four main periods of occupation: Early Bronze Age (2600–2000 BC), Middle Bronze Age (2000–1600 BC), Late Bronze Age (1600–1200 BC) and Iron Age (1200–333 BC) were investigated. Mean Δ13C results from seven plant species reveal emmer and free threshing wheat, olives, bitter vetch, rye grass and barley were adequately or well-watered during all periods of occupation. The grape Δ13C results suggest excellent growing conditions and particular care for its cultivation. The δ15N results indicate that especially the emmer and free threshing wheats received some manure inputs throughout the occupation sequence, while these were likely further increased during the Iron Age, encompassing also the olive groves and grape vineyards. Generally, domestic animals (cattle, sheep, goats) had C3 terrestrial diets and were kept together in similar environments. However, some animals consumed significant amounts of marine or C4 plants, possibly from disturbed habitats due to land use pressure or salt tolerant grasses and shrubs from wetland environments, which were recorded in the direct vicinity of the site. Middle Bronze Age humans consumed a C3 terrestrial diet with no measurable input from C4, freshwater or marine protein sources. Interestingly, the human diet was relatively low in animal protein and appears comparable to what is considered today a typical Mediterranean diet consisting of bread (wheat/barley), olives, grapes, pulses, dairy products and small amounts of meat. The combined isotopic analysis of plants, animals and humans from Tell Tweini represents unbroken links in the food chain which create unparalleled opportunities to enhance our current understanding of environmental conditions, climate change and lifeways in past populations from the Eastern Mediterranean.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Agropastoral and dietary practices of the northern Levant facing Late Holocene climate and environmental change: Isotopic analysis of plants, animals and humans from Bronze to Iron Age Tell Tweini

Fuller,

Riehl,

Linseele

et al. 2024

PLoS ONE

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“…Beyond, rapid climate changes, including the 4.2 and 3.2 ka BP events (Bini et al, 2019; Hazell et al, 2022; Manning et al, 2020; Roberts et al, 2011), under altogether semi-arid conditions (Finné et al, 2019; Wanner et al, 2008) might have amplified torrential run-off (Anderson et al, 2007; Bintliff, 2002) and landscape degradation in the eastern Mediterranean (Dusar et al, 2011). This could have intensified the catchment erosive potential and consequently increased alluvial fan deposition (Butzer, 2005).…”

Section: Holocene Geomorphodynamicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The 4.2 ka BP drought event (between ca. 4.2 and 3.9 ka BP) (Bini et al, 2019; Roberts et al, 2011) and the later 3.2 ka BP drought event (two phases: 3.5–3.3 and 3.1–2.9 ka BP) (Hazell et al, 2022; Manning et al, 2020) are widely regarded as the most important rapid climate change events during the Mid- to Late Holocene (Bini et al, 2019; Di Rita et al, 2022). The influence of these events on the diverse landscapes in the eastern Mediterranean region (including the Pergamon micro-region) is not yet fully understood.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Holocene geomorphodynamics of a rural catchment in the Pergamon micro-region (eastern Mediterranean)

et al. 2023

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The Pergamon micro-region (western Türkiye) has experienced several phases of increased geomorphodynamics during the Holocene. However, the role of local–regional human activities during a transformation between Hellenism and the Roman Imperial period and supra-regional climate fluctuations is still under discussion. Five sediment profiles from the alluvial fan of the rural Deliktaş catchment are analyzed and radiocarbon-dated to provide a sedimentological record covering the Holocene. Our results indicate seven phases of changing sediment dynamics. Five Holocene cycles of coarse- and fine-textured fan sediment deposition covered the paleochannel deposits of the Çaylak creek, and the floodplain sediments of the receiving Geyikli river which aggraded toward the piedmont during the Mid-Holocene. The landscape became stable on the Deliktaş fan and Geyikli floodplain at least ca. 4–3.4 cal ka BP as indicated by paleosols. These paleosols were again buried by fan sediments marking the first phase of accelerated geomorphodynamics during the Late Holocene. Both the local onset of human activities and the regional Mid-Holocene aridization with rapid climate changes play a role. The increased number of archeological sites and high human pressure on the environment during the Hellenistic–Roman transformation in the Deliktaş area and Pergamon micro-region were hypothesized to contribute to a phase of increased geomorphodynamic activity during the last 2.5 ka. This, however, is less apparent in our record. Our study emphasizes the importance of both, the climatic system and rural-urban cultural history, on landscape development, suggesting potential responses of locally diverse geomorphodynamics on regional-scale transformation in the eastern Mediterranean.

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Collapse Studies in Archaeology from 2012 to 2023

Middleton

2024

J Archaeol Res

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The study of collapse in archaeology and history has continued to grow and develop in the last decade and is a respectable target of investigation in and beyond these fields. Environmental determinism and apocalyptic narratives have become less acceptable and collapsology has matured into a more nuanced, self-critical, and sophisticated field. This review explores recent work on collapse in archaeology between 2012 and 2023. It demonstrates how collapse, and associated concepts such as resilience, fragility, and vulnerability, are studied in the light of present-day threats, how collapse studies are increasingly recognized to have application in the present day, where they can contribute to discourses of resilience and sustainable development, and shows the diversity present in collapse studies. It also discusses the language and concepts of collapse. I explore these areas with reference to general works on collapse and to six specific historical episodes of collapse: Old World collapse, eastern Mediterranean collapse, the Western and Eastern Roman Empires, the Classic Maya, Tiwanaku, and Rapa Nui.

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High-resolution Bronze Age palaeoenvironmental change in the Eastern Mediterranean: exploring the links between climate and societies

Cited by 4 publications

References 158 publications

Agropastoral and dietary practices of the northern Levant facing Late Holocene climate and environmental change: Isotopic analysis of plants, animals and humans from Bronze to Iron Age Tell Tweini

Agropastoral and dietary practices of the northern Levant facing Late Holocene climate and environmental change: Isotopic analysis of plants, animals and humans from Bronze to Iron Age Tell Tweini

Holocene geomorphodynamics of a rural catchment in the Pergamon micro-region (eastern Mediterranean)

Collapse Studies in Archaeology from 2012 to 2023

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