essay

Archaeological data on the origins of cultivation in the southwestern Sahara and their implications for West Africa

origins of african plant domesticationThe HaguePublished In 1976 • Pages: 187-209

By: Munson, Patrick J..

Abstract
This study explores the hypothesis that there was an early center of origin for seed-crop agriculture in the marginal climatic areas of the West African Sahelian zone. The author covers what is know about subsistence, environment, settlement patterns, and types of artifacts found in the eight phase archaeological sequence of the Dhar Tichitt region. Why the people of this area adopted food production is considered (going from seed collecting to intensive cropping in just a century), as is the origins of the grains adopted.
Subjects
Theoretical orientation in research and its results
Climate
Flora
Acculturation and culture contact
Collecting
Hunting and trapping
Fishing
Pastoral activities
Cereal agriculture
Chronologies and culture sequences
tradition
West African Neolithic
Region
Africa
Sub Region
Western Africa
Document Type
essay
Evaluation
Creator Type
Archaeologist
Document Rating
4: Excellent Secondary Data
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
Sarah Berry; 2021
Field Date
1966-1968
Coverage Date
4000-2400
Coverage Place
Dhar Tichitt escarpment, Tagant and Hodh Ech Chargui regions, Mauritania
Notes
Patrick J. Munson
Includes bibliographical references (p. 206-209)
LCCN
77353651
LCSH
West African Neolithic