The Visibility of Mobility: Coprolites, Dung and Neolithic Herders in Central Saharan Rock Shelters

Rotunno, Rocco; Mercuri, Anna Maria; Florenzano, Assunta; Zerboni, Andrea; Lernia, Savino di

doi:10.1080/14614103.2020.1777057

Cited by 5 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…The common occurrence of Tribulus was recorded in distant northern China too and attributed to heavy trampling by livestock, known to increase with grazing pressure; therefore, Tribulus is a potential indicator of grazing pressure on local vegetation (Li et al, 2008;Wei and Zhao, 2016). Similarly, palynological analysis of coprolites in the Central Sahara points to the significant presence of Tribulus, suggested to spread due to selective response to animal grazing (Rotunno et al, 2020). These records suggest that Tribulus might reflect human disturbances since it is most abundant in overgrazed veld or along roads (Scott and Morrison, 1996;Johannsmeier, 2016) However, Tribulus is spread through fruits with thorns, clinging to the hair and hooves of livestock and leaves and flowers are often not incorporated into the diet (see Kinahan, 2005;Sarwat et al, 2008).…”

Section: Tribulusmentioning

confidence: 99%

Archaeobotanical evidence for the emergence of pastoralism and farming in southern Africa

Olatoyan¹,

Neumann²,

Orijemie³

et al. 2022

Acta Palaeobot.

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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.

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Section: Tribulusmentioning

confidence: 99%

Archaeobotanical evidence for the emergence of pastoralism and farming in southern Africa

Olatoyan¹,

Neumann²,

Orijemie³

et al. 2022

Acta Palaeobot.

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“…Archaeobotanical analyses including pollen and macroremains have been carried out on sediment samples collected from every stratigraphical unit unearthed during the excavation. Pollen analyses were carried out on sediments and coprolites taken from all the sectors [20,27,28]. The analyses on Poaceae pollen reported here derive from new observations of the slides already studied for palaeoenvironmental and ethnographic purposes.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…Pollen extraction from sediments was made with a method including sieving and heavy liquid separation [20], while coprolites were boiled in 10% NaOH solution [28]. All treatments included acetolysis.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Data were analyzed by Pearson's correlation coefficients and Student's t-test (p < 0.05), performed to examine the relationship between the presence of multiporate Poaceae pollen and environmental/anthropogenic stresses (variables considered: >40 µm Poaceae Pollen analyses were carried out on sediments and coprolites taken from all the sectors [20,27,28]. The analyses on Poaceae pollen reported here derive from new observations of the slides already studied for palaeoenvironmental and ethnographic purposes.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…Takarkori rockshelter, Libya: List of pollen samples in the TK-NS sequence, with descriptions of stratigraphical units, cultural phases, chronology, and coprolites analysed in different phases. Pollen extraction from sediments was made with a method including sieving and heavy liquid separation [20], while coprolites were boiled in 10% NaOH solution [28]. All treatments included acetolysis.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Multiporate Pollen of Poaceae as Bioindicator of Environmental Stress: First Archaeobotanical Evidence from the Early–Middle Holocene Site of Takarkori in the Central Sahara

2022

Self Cite

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This paper reports on the most ancient unusual morphological trait of the apertures of Poaceae pollen found in archaeological layers. In Poaceae, high levels of hybridization, polyploidy, apomixis, and multiporate pollen are often related. Multiple genomes in polyploids are critical for the adaptation of plant species to stresses and could be revealed by anomalies in pollen development. Therefore, the paleoenvironmental research can gain great benefits from identifying polyploids in past contexts by observing anomalous pollen morphology during pollen counts. The occurrence of multiporate pollen in Poaceae has also been related to special features of the ecology of the species showing this anomaly, as well as to climatic and environmental stresses experienced by Poaceae living in a given region. Multiporate and bi- or tri-porate instead of monoporate pollen grains have been observed in samples taken from Takarkori rockshelter, an archaeological site in southwestern Libya (central Sahara) that has been occupied between ~10,200 and ~4650 cal BP. Multiporate pollen was found in organic sands and coprolites of ovicaprines. On the basis of archaeobotanical research, this work aims to investigate whether the presence of supernumerary pores in Poaceae pollen may be an effect of both climatic/hydrological changes and continued anthropogenic pressure on the wild grasses living in the region. The presence of multiporate pollen reveals that Poaceae that lived in central Sahara tackled several kinds of stress during the early and middle Holocene. The Takarkori pollen record suggests that climate change could have played a major role in the early Holocene, while human pressure became stronger during the middle Holocene. The change in environmental conditions determined adaptive responses of polyploid grasses even in the form of multiporate pollen.

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A Holocene Ceramic Sequence in the Central Sahara: Pottery Traditions and Social Dynamics Seen from the Takarkori Rockshelter (SW Libya)

Rotunno,

Cavorsi,

di Lernia

2023

Afr Archaeol Rev

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The Visibility of Mobility: Coprolites, Dung and Neolithic Herders in Central Saharan Rock Shelters

Cited by 5 publications

References 48 publications

Archaeobotanical evidence for the emergence of pastoralism and farming in southern Africa

Archaeobotanical evidence for the emergence of pastoralism and farming in southern Africa

Multiporate Pollen of Poaceae as Bioindicator of Environmental Stress: First Archaeobotanical Evidence from the Early–Middle Holocene Site of Takarkori in the Central Sahara

A Holocene Ceramic Sequence in the Central Sahara: Pottery Traditions and Social Dynamics Seen from the Takarkori Rockshelter (SW Libya)

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