Two sides of the 7.1 ka BP RCC event in the southern Carpathian Basin: Human adaptation to the changes in environmenta conditions during the Middle and Late Neolithic (original) (raw)
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Southern outskirts of Carpathian basin, namely the region between Sava, Drava and Danube rivers, have specific climate conditions today partially influenced by geological structure and geographical position. In this region Neolithic Starčevo and Sopot cultures are observed. Radiocarbon dates for Neolithic cultures are used to build a time frame which is compared with climate proxies, especially with Holocene rapid climate events (8.2, 5.9 and 4.2 ka), to draw a conclusion on when and how these cultures developed in southern regions of Carpathian basin. Lacking firm geoarchaeological data the results are not conclusive but can provide some insight on how the climate may have directly and indirectly influenced development of Neolithic and beginning of Eneolithic period in the region.
Different palaeoecological data indicate that a strong global climatic change occurred at the late glacial/postglacial transition, between approximately 12,000-9,000 years BP. Climate change at the late glacial/postglacial transition resulted in a dramatic change in the ecosystem because the rapid and strong change in climate resulted in some rapid changes in the environmental processes, such as landscape evolution, soil formation, plant succession and faunal migration (Roberts 1989). Thus, during a short transitional period from glacial to interglacial conditions a new environmental situation developed, and a new geological epoch started that is called the Holocene. This new environment transformed the habitats of the human populations and their physical and biological environment, thus the potentials of the human communities' economy changed again. As a result of these changes some cultural modification began, and Mesolithic followed by Neolithic cultures developed and spread out in many areas of the world. The archaeological data show that one of the most important and earliest agricultural centres formed in the Near East approximately 10,000 years ago and moved up to the Balkans finally reaching Northern Europe approximately between 5000-4000 BP (Ammerman & Cavalli-Sforza 1971; Zohary & Hopf 1988). Regional effects of this global climate change can also be detected in the different palaeoecological sites of the Carpathian Basin (Willis et al. 1995, 1997; Sümegi 1996; Kordos 1977). This region (including Hungary) is an important intermediate zone between the Balkan Peninsula and the western, eastern and northern parts of Europe. Thus it plays an important role in understanding the interactions of migration, settlement process, culture spread and environmental changes in Europe. Archaeological evidences suggest that the first farming communities developed in the Carpathian Basin from ca. 6500 cal BC (Hertelendi et al. 1996). The earliest agricultural communities belong to the Körös (including Transylvanian Körös) and Starčevo cultures, long recognised as a part of the
Boreas, 2018
Travertine deposits are unique archives for multidisciplinary studies of past climate changes, associated vegetation development and the evolution of human societies. Despite their high potential in palaeoecological and palaeoclimate reconstructions, investigations of travertines are rather scarce in central Europe and particularly in Slovakia. Therefore, this study focused on a travertine deposit situated on the border between the Pannonian Basin and the Western Carpathians in a small valley in Santovka village (SW Slovakia), which is unique due to the presence of archaeological artefacts with known radiocarbon ages in the palaeoecological profile. Using a multidisciplinary approach combining macrofossil, pollen, mollusc, lithological and geochemical analyses, this study investigated climate-human-vegetation interactions. The Holocene onset was marked by the early arrival of oak trees; however, forest-steppe with a high representation of pine predominated until 9880 cal. a BP, followed by an expansion of temperate trees. The local ecosystem changed around 8600 cal. a BP when the valley was probably dammed by a travertine accumulation, probably resulting in the existence of a small travertine lake. This was associated with wetter climatic conditions, which were also documented in other sites in the Western Carpathians at that time. Surrounding temperate forest possibly retained a certain degree of openness, or local steppe habitat may have persisted on adjacent loess terraces until the neolithization of the area. Archaeological evidence represented by a ceramic shard dated to 7339 cal. a BP suggests the first appearance of humans at the site, yet pollen analysis records a significant change in vegetation first at 6650 cal. a BP. The local ecosystem records an abrupt change linked with human settlement earlier, at c. 7000 cal. a BP. Deforestation activities of the Neolithics resulted in the formation of an open calcareous fen occupied by numerous light-demanding mollusc species. The present study provides new important data about the spread of temperate trees at the onset of the Holocene, about further vegetation changes caused by activities of the first Neolithic farmers and about climate changes in the region of southwestern Slovakia.
The 8200 calBP climate event and the spread of the Neolithic in Eastern Europe
Documenta Praehistorica, 2015
At 8200 calBP, the beginning of the Atlantic period, there was a drastic change from warm and humid climatic conditions to cold conditions. The abrupt cooling at 8200 calBP has been documented in different parts of Europe. In western, and some parts of southern, Europe, this event was a trigger for new forms of economy and migrations of groups of Neolithic farmers. This paper considers the different ways in which ceramic traditions developed in eastern Europe in the steppe,steppe-forest and forest zones as a result of the rapid climate changes at about 8200 calBP.
VITA ANTIQUA, 2020
The collection of scientific works is devoted to modern research on the interaction of the natural environment and the prehistoric population of Eastern Europe. Particular attention is paid to the study of the impact of abrupt climate change in the early Holocene on the material culture and economy of the Neolithic and sub-Neolithic communities. The natural factors of social changes in prehistoric times are considered. The proposed collection will be useful for all who are interested in the prehistory, archaeology and geography of Europe - archaeologists, prehistorians, local historians, ethnographers, museum workers, researchers of cultural heritage, students of higher education.
The initial contribution to this specialised volume introduced the timeframe and the core issues of the specific topic, i.e., the changes that are reflected in the material culture of the Early and Middle (or Late in the Czech or Slovak chronological system) Neolithic period around the transition from the 6th millennium to the 5th millennium BC. In particular, the following three subjects of interest were studied: 1) theoretical issues associated with the impetus for cultural change during the Linear Pottery culture (LBK) and Post-LBK cultures; 2) the spatial structure of the settlements and the characteristics of the settlement features during this period; and 3) the changes occurring in society, including the distribution of artefacts and supra-regional contacts. The approaches to different topics adopted by individual authors and their interpretations of their results were quite heterogeneous. However, highquality material was still presented and interpretations were formulated that should be addressed further utilising archaeological sources beyond even Central Europe.