Review of Ethnoarchaeology of the Kel Tadrart Tuareg: Pastoralism and Resilience in Central Sahara by Stefano Biagetti

Robin Bendrey

doi:10.1186/s13570-015-0030-0

Abstract

This volume presents an ethnoarchaeological study of the Kel Tadrart Tuareg of the central Sahara (south-west Libya). The study not only provides a useful and richly detailed framework for better understanding the archaeological record of this region, but also contributes a wider range of insights on the adaptability of pastoralists to desert environments. It will be of broad interest to practitioners and researchers engaged with both the past and present of pastoralist lifeways and will also be of relevance to those working in ethnoarchaeology and archaeology more generally.

Highlights

Our knowledge of present and past human lifeways and food security in hyperarid lands is deepened by a study of the Kel Tadrart Tuareg of the central Sahara, of significance for current issues relating to food production and resilience in the face of expanding global populations and changing regional climates
Biagetti’s study focuses on the Kel Tadrart, a small Tuareg community living in the Tadrart Acacus massif in the central Sahara
The full understanding of past Saharan pastoral societies is of major regional significance due to the role these groups played in the origin and spread of animal husbandry in prehistoric northern Africa

Summary

Introduction

Our knowledge of present and past human lifeways and food security in hyperarid lands is deepened by a study of the Kel Tadrart Tuareg of the central Sahara, of significance for current issues relating to food production and resilience in the face of expanding global populations and changing regional climates. Biagetti’s study focuses on the Kel Tadrart, a small Tuareg community living in the Tadrart Acacus massif in the central Sahara (south-west Libya). As the author discusses, certain differences exist such as the modern use of cars, which clearly affect present-day mobility patterns and access to resources.

Results

Conclusion