Environmental change and social dynamics in the second–third millennium BC in NW Iberia

Abstract

Analysis of different sediments in NW Spain suggests that a series of abrupt climatic changes occurred between 3500 and 1000 BC. These involved some episodes of cooling and others of drought. There were also changes to the coastline of Galicia. Taken together, these would have offered new opportunities to Copper Age communities who had already embarked on a process of agricultural intensification. The result was a growth of internecine competition.