Regional population collapse followed initial agriculture booms in mid-Holocene Europe

• DOI: 10.1038/ncomms3486
• Publication Date: 2013-10-01T15:00:06Z
• Authors: Stephen Shennan; Sean S. Downey; Adrian Timpson; Kevan Edinborough; Sue Colledge; Tim Kerig; Katie Manning; Mark G. Thomas
• Keywords: Bust

Following its initial arrival in SE Europe 8,500 years ago agriculture spread throughout the continent, changing food production and consumption patterns increasing population densities. Here we show that, contrast to steady growth usually assumed, introduction of into was followed by a boom-and-bust pattern density regional populations. We demonstrate that summed calibrated radiocarbon date distributions simulation can be used test significance these demographic booms busts context uncertainty calibration curve archaeological sampling. report results for Central Northwest between 8,000 4,000 cal. BP investigate relationship climate. However, find no evidence support relationship. Our thus suggest may have arisen from endogenous causes, although this remains speculative. Between 8000 4000 BP, Shennan et al. analyse paleoclimate proxies also triggered oscillations climate forcing is an unlikely cause.