How geoarchaeology and landscape archaeology contribute to niche construction theory (NCT).

Sjoerd J Kluiving

doi:10.1007/s12685-015-0144-8

Abstract

In this paper a review is given of examples of geoarchaeological and landscape archaeological research from four locations throughout Europe. Case-studies from the North Sea coastal zone in the Netherlands and the Eastern Mediterranean are presented to illustrate the potential contribution of geoarchaeology and landscape archaeology to niche construction theory (NCT) studies. Typical landscapes as coast lines, lake shores and rivers as example of small and large scale use of the natural landscape and/or topography are discussed with implications for NCT, mainly over the Holocene period. Through environmental reconstruction, we provide relative dates for starting points when humans (a) were altering their own selective environment as an inceptive change, or (b) responded to a (deteriorated) selective environment in a counteractive change. Geoarchaeology and landscape archaeology valuable contribution to NCT studies is the focus of the disciplines on landscape gradients. NCT phase transitions from inceptive to counteractive changes are proposed as useful alternative in the debate about the onset of the Anthropocene.

Highlights

Can we identify shortcomings in niche construction theory (NCT) that can potentially be solved by concepts or methodologies from geoarchaeology and landscape archaeology? In addition our research aim is to discuss these case studies in NCT terminology, to explore their specific environments of human occupation in terms of ‘landscape gradients’
The observation of the shift from reactive to proactive water management styles through time in the western Netherlands around 3000 years ago runs parallel with the recent discussion on the Anthropocene, which places the onset of dominant human influence on nature in the Late Iron Age (Kaplan et al 2011)
A number of other researchers place the start of the Anthropocene much earlier in the Holocene (Ruddiman 2013; Ruddiman et al 2008; Smith and Zeder 2013)

Summary

Introduction

Around 2000 years ago humans changed their attitude against coastal defence: instead of just reacting to higher water levels by raising surface level in a passive mode they changed to a proactive way of water management during Roman times and even earlier such as the construction of dams, dikes, dwelling mounds (the first since 2500–2600 BP) and canals (De Gans 2007; De Ridder 1999, Fig. 4). In Lake Kalodiki the pollen sequence suggests a possible early Weichselian dating of lake sediments, whereas the same sedimentological sequence continues until the late Weichselian (Kluiving et al 2011) This period can be related to the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic archaeological framework and is represented by rich scattered finds and sites in the wider environment of Epirus. The reconstructed Holocene processes with slope failure through deforestation differ from the stable landscape situation during Palaeolithic habitation for which no such changes have been recorded

Discussion

Concluding remarks