Neolithization Processes in the Levant: The Outer Envelope
Abstract
The Near East is one of those unique places where the transition(s) from hunter-gatherers to farmers occurred locally, so it is possible to observe the whole sequence of these processes within the region as a whole. We discuss the archaeological evidence pertaining to those transformations within the Levant, presenting the particularistic local changes in settlement patterns and the character of the different communities juxtaposed with the landscapes and environmental background. The asynchronous developments clearly reflect the mosaic nature of the Levant in terms of specific local environmental conditions that influenced the scope and pace of Neolithization processes.
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Some agricultural systems developed at the Pleistocene-Holocene transition, including Southwest Asia, South America, and North China, whereas others took place closer to 6,000-7,000 y ago, such as Yangtze China and perhaps central America.
“Some developed at the Pleistocene–Holocene transition, including Southwest Asia (60, 64), South America (65, 66), and North China (67), whereas others took place closer to 6,000–7,000 y ago, such as Yangtze China (68) and perhaps central America (cf. 69).”
From Used planet: a global history (2013) · cites this paper as [64]
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- Authors
- Goring-Morris, A. N., & Belfer-Cohen, A.
- Venue
- Current Anthropology
- Publisher
- University of Chicago Press
- Published
- 2011-10
- Volume
- 52
- Issue
- S4
- Pages
- S195-S208
- ISSN
- 0011-3204 (ISSN-L)
- 1537-5382
- OpenAlex
- W1537633590
- Cited by
- 151
- References
- 94
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 7
- FWCI
- 7.16
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Current Anthropology (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- University of Chicago
- Japan Epilepsy Research Foundation
- Invention for Innovation
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Archaeology and ancient environmental studies
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Archeology › Archaeological and Geological Studies
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Soil Science › Soil and Environmental Studies
- Keywords
- Neolithic transition, hunter-gatherer to agricultural transition, Levant, Near East, settlement patterns, local environmental conditions, landscape and environment, asynchronous development, prehistoric societies
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