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The Neolithisation of Liguria (NW Italy)

An environmental archaeological and palaeoenvironmental perspective

Bibliographic Data

ID12653898
AuthorsNicholas Branch (0000-0001-8826-0365, University of Reading, corresponding author), Stuart Black (0000-0003-1396-4821, University of Reading), Roberto Maggi (0009-0004-0162-5851, University of Genoa), Nathalie Marini (University of Reading), Nathalie A F Marini
Year2014
Volume19
Issue3
Pages196-213
Publication date2014-05-22
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueEnvironmental Archaeology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1461-4103 • E-ISSN: 1749-6314
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1179/1749631414y.0000000024
OpenAlexW1976326899
LanguageEN
Citations received14
References cited86

The archaeological evidence compiled for Liguria has enabled the formulation of a comprehensive model of Neolithic social, technological and economic development (∼7800–5700 cal yrs BP). The model indicates that during the Early and Middle Neolithic (∼7800–6300 cal yrs BP; ‘Impressed Ware’ and ‘Square Mouthed’ pottery cultures) human activity mainly focussed on low (coastal) and mid-altitude areas. By the Late Neolithic (∼6300–5700 cal yrs BP; ‘Chassey’ culture) farming practices were taking place over a wider range of altitudes and involved transhumant pastoralism. Complementary environmental archaeological and palaeoecological records from caves, open-air sites, lakes and mires indicate that human activities had a more significant impact on the environment than previously thought. This included clearance, especially Abies, Ulmus, Fraxinus and Tilia, and woodland utilisation and management (e.g. leaf foddering), as well as cereal cultivation and animal husbandry. The influence of Middle Holocene climatic changes, especially from ∼7800 cal yrs BP, on the direction of vegetation changes and socio-economic developments during the Neolithic remain uncertain

Archaeology · Cave · Geography · Holocene · Livestock · Pastoralism · Pottery · Woodland · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Geology and Paleoclimatology Research · Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology · Ecology · Forestry

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Unique citing works14
Citations per year1,27
Citation span2015 - 2026 (12)
Citation velocitycurrent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 14
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