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Middle Holocene rapid environmental changes and human adaptation in Greece

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Laurent Lespez ,
Arthur Glais ,
José-Antonio Lopez-Saez ,
Yann Le Drezen ,
Zoï Tsirtsoni ,
Robert Davidson ,
Laetitia Biree  and
Dimitra Malamidou
Laurent Lespez*
Affiliation:
LGP-UMR 8591 CNRS, University of Paris East-Créteil (UPEC), 1 place Aristide Briand, 92195 Meudon Cedex, France
Arthur Glais
Affiliation:
LETG CAEN-UMR 6554 CNRS, University of Caen-Normandie, Esplanade de la Paix, 14000 Caen, France
José-Antonio Lopez-Saez
Affiliation:
G.I. Arqueobiología, Instituto de Historia, CCHS, CSIC, 28037 Madrid, Spain
Yann Le Drezen
Affiliation:
LGP-UMR 8591 CNRS, University of Paris East-Créteil (UPEC), 1 place Aristide Briand, 92195 Meudon Cedex, France
Zoï Tsirtsoni
Affiliation:
ArScAn-UMR 7041 CNRS, University of Paris I, Paris 10, and French Ministry of Culture, 21 allée de l'université, 92023 Nanterre Cedex, France
Robert Davidson
Affiliation:
LETG CAEN-UMR 6554 CNRS, University of Caen-Normandie, Esplanade de la Paix, 14000 Caen, France
Laetitia Biree
Affiliation:
LETG CAEN-UMR 6554 CNRS, University of Caen-Normandie, Esplanade de la Paix, 14000 Caen, France
Dimitra Malamidou
Affiliation:
Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities, Er. Stavrou 17, 65110 Kavala, Greece
*
⁎Corresponding author. Fax: + 33 01 45 17 11 76. E-mail address:laurent.lespez@lgp.cnrs.fr, laurent.lespez@u-pec.fr (L. Lespez).
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Abstract

Numerous researchers discuss of the collapse of civilizations in response to abrupt climate change in the Mediterranean region. The period between 6500 and 5000 cal yr BP is one of the least studied episodes of rapid climate change at the end of the Late Neolithic. This period is characterized by a dramatic decline in settlement and a cultural break in the Balkans. High-resolution paleoenvironmental proxy data obtained in the Lower Angitis Valley enables an examination of the societal responses to rapid climatic change in Greece. Development of a lasting fluvio-lacustrine environment followed by enhanced fluvial activity is evident from 6000 cal yr BP. Paleoecological data show a succession of dry events at 5800–5700, 5450 and 5000–4900 cal yr BP. These events correspond to incursion of cold air masses to the eastern Mediterranean, confirming the climatic instability of the middle Holocene climate transition. Two periods with farming and pastural activities (6300–5600 and 5100–4700 cal BP) are evident. The intervening period is marked by environmental changes, but the continuous occurrence of anthropogenic taxa suggests the persistence of human activities despite the absence of archaeological evidence. The environmental factors alone were not sufficient to trigger the observed societal changes.

Keywords

Bronze AgeClimate changeFluvial systemHuman adaptationMediterraneanMid-HoloceneNeolithicNon-Pollen PalynomorphsPollenSouth-East Balkans
Type
Original Articles
Information
Quaternary Research , Volume 85 , Issue 2 , March 2016 , pp. 227 - 244
Copyright
University of Washington

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