High-resolution fluvial records of Holocene environmental changes in the Sahel: the Yamé River at Ounjougou (Mali, West Africa)

Lespez, Laurent; Drezen, Yann Le; Garnier, Aline; Rassé, Michel; Eichhorn, Barbara; Ozainne, Sylvain; Ballouche, Aziz; Neumann, Katharina; Huysecom, Éric

doi:10.1016/j.quascirev.2010.12.021

Cited by 49 publications

(52 citation statements)

References 74 publications

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“…Palaeoclimate studies of palynology (Lézine 1988), limnology (Bellouche and Neumann 1995;Francus et al 2013;Petit-Maire 1988;Talbot and Delibrias 1980), hydrology (Drézen et al 2010;Lespez et al 2011), offshore cores (Bouimetarhan et al 2009;Casteñeda et al 2009;deMenocal et al 2000;Lézine and Hooghiemstra 1990;Shanahan et al 2009), geomorphology (Mauz and Felix-Henningsen 2005;Talbot 1981) and anthracology (Bellouche and Neumann 1995;Neumann 1989) show that since the last glaciation the West African Sahel has seen no fewer than four major climate inversions. Humid phases would have delivered the region with up to 100 % more precipitation that it has today, turning the great, lowlying basins into inland seas supporting scores of aquatic and terrestrial species (Grove 1978;Petit-Maire et al 1983).…”

Section: Climate In Context Chronological Shortcomingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Palaeoceanographic studies, analysis of the Greenland ice cores and small-scale inland palaeohydrologic studies suggest that these transformations took place rapidly, possibly within the span of a decade to quarter-century (Alley et al 1993;deMenocal et al 2000;Lespez et al 2011;Petit-Maire 1987;Shanahan et al 2009). This means that within a generation or two, a landscape rich in tropical grassland/savannah flora and fauna would have morphed into an arid expanse, inhospitable to all but the most hardy plant, animal and human communities.…”

Section: Climate In Context Chronological Shortcomingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Coring Lake Fati and Settlement Archaeology of the Middle Niger Lakes Region

Coutros

Douglas

2015

Afr Archaeol Rev

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A two-part archaeological and limnological study of the Malian Lakes Region has revealed the high research potential of the region. The exploratory reconnaissance of the Gorbi Valley, on the eastern edge of Lake Fati, identified, mapped and sampled eight new sites. The results of the survey suggest a long duration occupation of the Gorbi Valley, as well as possible connections with the populations of the Inland Niger Delta and southeastern Mauritania. The Lake Fati core represents the first lake sediment core from the western Sahel. This 5.4 m sediment core contains a continuous record of lake mud from 10.43 to 4.66 kyr BP. Analysis of the core reveals that Al and Si abundances are decoupled following a deposition of 16 cm of sand at 4.5 ka BP, with Al decreasing and Si increasing rapidly. This period of sand deposition is significantly younger than that of the transition at 5.5 ka BP recorded in marine cores from ODP site 658, taken off the Mauritanian coast, potentially extending the timeframe in which dune systems were stable and lake systems were at their highstand. While highlighting the need for more localized climate chronologies and archaeological investigations, this study may shed light on circumstances surrounding the initial colonization and further development of the Lakes Region.Résumé Une étude de la Zone Lacustre du Mali a montré la potentialité de la région en matière de recherche plus archéologique que limnologique. Une reconnaissance d'exploration effectuée dans la vallée de Gorbi, sur la côte orientale du lac de Fati, a mis au jour huit nouveaux sites. Ces sites ont été cartographiés, et des échantillons archéologiques y ont été systématiquement prélevés. Les résultats de la reconnaissance indiquent une occupation de longue durée de la vallée de Gorbi, ainsi que des Afr Archaeol Rev (2015) 32:249-266

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Section: Climate In Context Chronological Shortcomingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Climate In Context Chronological Shortcomingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Coring Lake Fati and Settlement Archaeology of the Middle Niger Lakes Region

Coutros

Douglas

2015

Afr Archaeol Rev

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“…(d) The dark organic silts, only recorded during HR1B (4650-4000 cal. BP), are characteristic of decantation processes in standing pools on the floodplain (Lespez et al, 2011).…”

Section: Sedimentological Analysis and Depositional Environment Identmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phytolith taphonomy in the middle- to late-Holocene fluvial sediments of Ounjougou (Mali, West Africa)

et al. 2012

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“…If it is possible to determine concrete dependencies between influencing factors, fluvial archives contain a high potential to provide reliable information about palaeoenvironmental conditions (e.g. Houben, 2003;Lespez et al, 2011), especially if they are related with archives of climate information in the strict sense such as travertine.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%