Evidence for the impact of the 8.2-kyBP climate event on Near Eastern early farmers

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1803607115
• Publication Date: 2018-08-13T19:15:02Z
• Authors: Mélanie Roffet-Sa...; Arkadiusz Marciniak; Paul J. Valdes; Kamilla Pawłowska; Joanna Pyzel; Lech Czerniak; Marta Krüger; C. Neil Roberts; Sharmini Pitter; Richard P. Evershed
• Keywords: Human settlement; Paleoclimatology; Assemblage (archaeology)

The 8.2-thousand years B.P. event is evident in multiple proxy records across the globe, showing generally dry and cold conditions for ca. 160 years. Environmental changes around are mainly detected using geochemical or palynological analyses of ice cores, lacustrine, marine, other sediments often distant from human settlements. Late Neolithic excavated area archaeological site Çatalhöyük East [Team Poznań (TP) area] was occupied four centuries ninth eighth millennia B.P., thus encompassing climatic event. A Bayesian analysis 56 radiocarbon dates yielded a high-resolution chronological model comprising six building phases, with ranging before 8325-8205 to 7925-7815 calibrated (cal) Here, we correlate an onsite paleoclimate record constructed δ2H values lipid biomarkers preserved pottery vessels recovered these buildings architectural, archaeozoological, consumption well-documented contexts. overall sequence shows major husbandry practices at 8.2 thousand synchronous variations animal fat residues. Changes seem connected patterns atmospheric precipitation during occupation TP predicted by climate modeling. Our multiproxy approach uses derived directly documented Through this, provide compelling evidence specific impacts on economic domestic activities pioneer farmers, influencing decisions relating settlement planning food procurement strategies.