10,000 year history of plant use at Bosumpra Cave, Ghana (original) (raw)
Related papers
Quaternary International, 2012
Oil palm is an integral part of modern subsistence economies in West Africa, and archaeological evidence suggests that it also played an important role in antiquity. Steep increases in oil palm pollen during the mid-to late Holocene have been observed in the paleoenvironmental record, which some have argued may represent cultivation activities. Charred plant macroremains from archaeological sites provide an alternate means by which to examine the relationship between people and oil palm. The Late Stone Age Kintampo Tradition is associated with early domesticates alongside continued use of wild resources, leading scholars to suggest that they occupy the middle ground between foraging and farming. This paper evaluates the relationship between Kintampo and oil palm using archaeological plant remains from two sites (K6 and the B-sites) in central Ghana. Oil palm use at both sites over time indicates similar patterns of landscape utilization that may represent arboriculture. These activities can be viewed as the performance of domesticatory relationships on the landscape, which may be a more fruitful lens through which to characterize Kintampo subsistence practices.
Journal of Archaeological Science, 1984
The Mfolozi and Hluhluwe Valleys of southeastern Africa are representative of a sub-tropical biome and have archaeological evidence for farming settlement spanning more than 1500 years. By collecting information on soils and plant communities within the same sample frame as archaeological data, the relative importance of environmental and anthropomorphic influences can be assessed. It is argued that, although climate and soils have determined the overall distribution of plant communities, human land use has had a considerable effect on the composition of both woodland and grassland. The nature of this interaction between man and environment provides inferential data on prehistoric economies and also aids the formulation of conservation policies in protected areas.
Hunter-Gatherer Land Use Patterns in Later Stone Age East Africa* 1
Journal of Anthropological Archaeology, 1999
This paper discusses land use patterns of hunter-gatherers inhabiting arid grasslands of later Pleistocene East Africa, inferred from an analysis of raw material economy in five Later Stone Age (LSA) lithic assemblages from Lukenya Hill, southern Kenya. Later Stone Age lithic assemblages at Lukenya fall into two groups, one based predominantly on the use of quartz to manufacture scrapers and other flake tools, and the second using greater amounts of rarer chert and obsidian lithic materials to manufacture microliths. Aspects of raw material use, coupled with ethnographic data on how food and water abundance affects Kalahari forager land use, indicate that the first group of sites had longer occupations by groups with smaller home ranges. The second group of sites had shorter occupations by more mobile groups with larger home ranges. The paper compares the land use patterns of arid grassland LSA foragers, like those at Lukenya Hill, with those in woodland and forest areas of Central and Southeastern Africa. Improvements in the ability to procure food, such as the development of fishing and fowling technologies or better hunting projectiles, allowed grassland groups to become more mobile in the later LSA, while foragers in wetter parts of Africa, including woodlands, riverine areas, and lakeshores, seem to have intensified the procurement of fish and plant foods. The processes of economic specialization taking place in both grassland and woodland areas of Later Stone Age Africa may have parallels in other parts of the Old World.
L'article présente une revue critique des données archéozoologiques issues de sites au Ghana publiées jusqu'à présent et résume l'analyse faunistique de plusieurs sites Gonja et Asante. Les données suggèrent la persistance de l'utilisation des diverses ressources animales sauvages disponibles et une utilisation limitée d'animaux domestiques depuis la Préhistoire tardive jusqu'aujourd'hui, mais certaines ressources telles que mollusques, insectes etc. peuvent être peu ou invisibles. L'utilisation intensive des ressources sauvages comestibles est peut-être caractéristique des forêts claires africaines. Abstract The paper provides a critical review of the archaeozoological information from Ghanaian sites published up to now and summarizes the new faunal analysis of several Gonja and Asante sites. The data suggest the persistence of the use of the various wild animal resources available and limited reliance on domestic animals since late prehistoric times up to today, although certain resources such as molluscs, insects etc. may have limited or no visibility. Intensive utilisation of edible wild resources may be prevalent in African woodlands.
Hunter–Gatherer Land Use Patterns in Later Stone Age East Africa
1999
This paper discusses land use patterns of hunter-gatherers inhabiting arid grasslands of later Pleistocene East Africa, inferred from an analysis of raw material economy in five Later Stone Age (LSA) lithic assemblages from Lukenya Hill, southern Kenya. Later Stone Age lithic assemblages at Lukenya fall into two groups, one based predominantly on the use of quartz to manufacture scrapers and other flake tools, and the second using greater amounts of rarer chert and obsidian lithic materials to manufacture microliths. Aspects of raw material use, coupled with ethnographic data on how food and water abundance affects Kalahari forager land use, indicate that the first group of sites had longer occupations by groups with smaller home ranges. The second group of sites had shorter occupations by more mobile groups with larger home ranges. The paper compares the land use patterns of arid grassland LSA foragers, like those at Lukenya Hill, with those in woodland and forest areas of Central and Southeastern Africa. Improvements in the ability to procure food, such as the development of fishing and fowling technologies or better hunting projectiles, allowed grassland groups to become more mobile in the later LSA, while foragers in wetter parts of Africa, including woodlands, riverine areas, and lakeshores, seem to have intensified the procurement of fish and plant foods. The processes of economic specialization taking place in both grassland and woodland areas of Later Stone Age Africa may have parallels in other parts of the Old World.
Interdisciplinaria Archaeologica , 2024
This review delves into the changes in food consumption patterns over time in West Africa, emphasising the significant role played by archaeobotanical studies. West African food consumption has been influenced by various factors such as economic, environmental, and external influences. Our initial studies focused on plant and animal domestication and the spread of grains. The arrival of Europeans in the 15th century brought changes in foodways, introducing new crops from the New and Old World. Some misconceptions about African food and agriculture have been challenged, accentuating the region’s diversity and resilience. The paper discusses the initial focus on economic factors and the domestication of plants, leading to a better understanding of the connection between food and society. Additionally, it dispels misapprehensions about West African cuisine and highlights the impact of the Atlantic trade on foodways. The study underscores the significance of interdisciplinary research in rectifying any biases surrounding Africa’s food history. Archaeobotanical research has shed light on the dynamic nature of African foodways, including the integration of American crops into local food traditions. However, knowledge of the extent of adoption and use of these crops during the precolonial era remains limited. More research is required to comprehend the adoption of American crops and the resilience of African food systems.