Abstract

The mid-Holocene (ca. 8200–4200 cal BP) brought about important climatic changes and environmental shifts to land and coastal systems, globally. Many of the human groups existing at that time were affected in various degrees by such important modifications to their foraging areas, including shorelines. Higher sea-levels (+1–3 m) were a prominent factor reshaping coastal landscapes and thus affecting coastal foraging in one or more ways. Hot and dry weather and relatively higher sea levels along the central west coast of South Africa impacted substantially on local coastal hunter-gatherer groups. These challenges were thought once to have been unsurmountable because of an apparent absence of sites dated to this period. Recently dated mid-Holocene assemblages allow us to gain insight into coastal resource procurement and overall subsistence, and also to derive more detailed coastal paleoecological data. The results show a predominantly terrestrial diet, while shellfish collection persisted amid prevailing environmental factors affecting mussel growth by supplementing their reduced mollusk takes with additional prey. Sizeable crustaceans were also procured in relatively large numbers in some localities, but not in all. This is the most-up-to date mid-Holocene subsistence record for the central west coast of South Africa which, apart from reconstructing changes in procurement strategies, reveals a trajectory of persistence in the face of climate change.

摘要

全新世中期（约 8200-4200 cal BP）给全球陆地和沿海系统带来了重要的气候变化和环境变化。当时存在的许多人类群体都受到了包括海岸线在内的觅食区的重大改变的不同程度的影响。较高的海平面（+1-3 m）是重塑沿海景观的重要因素，从而以一种或多种方式影响沿海觅食。南非中部西海岸的炎热干燥天气和相对较高的海平面对当地沿海狩猎采集群体产生了重大影响。这些挑战曾经被认为是无法克服的，因为明显缺乏这一时期的遗址。最近约会的全新世中期组合使我们能够深入了解沿海资源采购和整体生计，并获得更详细的沿海古生态数据。结果显示，主要是陆生饮食，而贝类的采集在影响贻贝生长的主要环境因素中持续存在，通过补充减少的软体动物摄入量和额外的猎物。一些地方还大量采购了大型甲壳类动物，但并非全部采购。这是南非中西海岸最新的全新世中期生存记录，除了重建采购策略的变化外，还揭示了面对气候变化的持续轨迹。而在影响贻贝生长的主要环境因素中，贝类的采集仍然存在，通过用额外的猎物补充减少的软体动物摄入量。一些地方还大量采购了大型甲壳类动物，但并非全部采购。这是南非中西海岸最新的全新世中期生存记录，除了重建采购策略的变化外，还揭示了面对气候变化的持续轨迹。而在影响贻贝生长的主要环境因素中，贝类的采集仍然存在，通过用额外的猎物补充减少的软体动物摄入量。一些地方还大量采购了大型甲壳类动物，但并非全部采购。这是南非中西海岸最新的全新世中期生存记录，除了重建采购策略的变化外，还揭示了面对气候变化的持续轨迹。