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Domesticating Animals in Africa

Implications of Genetic and Archaeological Findings

Bibliographic Data

ID7324742
AuthorsD Gifford-Gonzalez (0000-0003-4092-3283, University of California System), Olivier Hanotte (0000-0002-2877-4767, University of Nottingham)
Year2011
Volume24
Issue1
Pages1-23
Publication date2011-02-05
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of World Prehistory (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0892-7537 • E-ISSN: 1573-7802
PublisherSpringer Nature (PUBLISHER • SG)
DOI10.1007/s10963-010-9042-2
OpenAlexW2084771490
LanguageEN
Citations received73
References cited91

Domestication is an ongoing co-evolutionary process rather than an event or invention. Recent zooarchaeological and animal genetics research has prompted a thorough revision of our perspectives on the history of domestic animals in Africa. Genetic analyses of domestic animal species have revealed that domestic donkeys are descended from African ancestors, opened a debate over the contribution of indigenous aurochs to African domestic cattle, revealed an earlier and possibly exogenous origin of the domestic cat, and reframed our vision of African dogs. Genetic diversity studies and mapping of unique traits in African cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and chickens indicate adaptations to regional environmental challenges and suggest hitherto unknown and complex patterns of interactions both among Africans and with Southwest Asia and other Asian regions on the Indian Ocean. This article argues against the static perspective on domestication as invention and for viewing it as a dynamic, locally based and continuing process

Biology · Domestic animal · Domestication · Ethnology · Geography · Indigenous · Perspective (graphical · Sociology · Zoology · Animal Diversity and Health Studies · Anthropology · History · Livestock and Poultry Management · Rangeland Management and Livestock Ecology · Ecology

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Unique citing works73
Citations per year4,87
Citation span2011 - 2025 (15)
Citation velocityrecent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 71
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