Class 11 - Holocene Hunters and Gatherers

How did global climate change at the beginning of the Holocene (12,000 to 9,000 BC)

15 degree increase in temperature with sea levels rising dramatically

How did environments of Europe, NA, Africa, Australia, and SA change in the early Holocene?

Europe, North America, and North Asia: went from ice and tundra to forests

Africa: did not really change and megafauna survived

Australia: more arid, contraction of rainforests, and extinction of megafauna

South America: glacial retreat led to Andes Mountains and most of the Amazon Basin is from the Savannah expanding the rainforest

Why did so many species become extinct at the beginning of the Holocene? What are the 3 main theories?

Ill theory: emergence of a virus due to climate change; no evidence

Kill theory: human beings caused the extinction of megafauna and keystone species that support the ecosystem of birds and shellfish

The end of the chill: dramatic increase in temperature, forests replaced the clear tundra that megafauna roamed, and climate shock from Holocene → Younger Dryas → Holocene

How did people at Mount Sandel, Ireland adopt to the early Holocene?

Gave up small groups → villages because resources are so abundant

How did the Jomon people of Japan adapt to the early Holocene?

Transitioned to year round villages and H&G’s became fishermen

How did the Shoshone adapt to the difficult environment of the Great Basin in the Holocene?

High mobility within large territory, small group size, and little or no storage

What type of site was Gatecliff Shelter? What did people do at the site? Where was it located?

Located in the mountains in the alpine zone above tree line

Essentially a hunting camp

Initially thought to be a campsite to hide from rain or stay warm

What does Gatecliff Shelter and Stillwater Marsh tell us about Holocene H&G’s in the Great Basin?

Story of human success in a harsh environment
Sustainable, stable lifeway lasting more than 5000 years but a hard life

What were two general types of adaptation to the Early Holocene?

High mobility, small groups within a large territory

Sedentary, village life without agriculture