TY - JOUR
T1 - The effects of the 8.2 ka event on the natural environment of Tell Sabi Abyad, Syria
T2 - Implications for ecosystem resilience studies
AU - van der Horn, Sarah A.
AU - van Kolfschoten, Thijs
AU - van der Plicht, Johannes
AU - Hoek, Wim Z.
PY - 2015/8/18
Y1 - 2015/8/18
N2 - Research on ecosystem resilience and climate-ecosystem interactions is extremely complex due to the large variety of factors that play a role in ecosystem functioning. This study aimes at determining which factors are involved in ecosystem resilience, which methods are needed to investigate this, and how archaeology can contribute to such research. The influence of the 8.2 ka climate event on the natural environment of Tell Sabi Abyad, Syria, serves as a case study for larger-scale ecosystem resilience studies.This study presents some critical notes to the assumption that the changes which took place in Tell Sabi Abyad at the timing of the 8.2 ka event were a direct result of climate change triggered by the event. Though a number of changes in culture and farming methods date back to the timing of the 8.2 ka event, as yet no evidence has been found for wild flora and fauna shifts which could indicate climate deterioration. Other factors that could have influenced the changes observed in the archaeological record, like anthropogenic influences or cultural development, should not be ruled out as determining factors for the changes that took place at Tell Sabi Abyad at the timing of the 8.2 ka event.
AB - Research on ecosystem resilience and climate-ecosystem interactions is extremely complex due to the large variety of factors that play a role in ecosystem functioning. This study aimes at determining which factors are involved in ecosystem resilience, which methods are needed to investigate this, and how archaeology can contribute to such research. The influence of the 8.2 ka climate event on the natural environment of Tell Sabi Abyad, Syria, serves as a case study for larger-scale ecosystem resilience studies.This study presents some critical notes to the assumption that the changes which took place in Tell Sabi Abyad at the timing of the 8.2 ka event were a direct result of climate change triggered by the event. Though a number of changes in culture and farming methods date back to the timing of the 8.2 ka event, as yet no evidence has been found for wild flora and fauna shifts which could indicate climate deterioration. Other factors that could have influenced the changes observed in the archaeological record, like anthropogenic influences or cultural development, should not be ruled out as determining factors for the changes that took place at Tell Sabi Abyad at the timing of the 8.2 ka event.
KW - 8.2 ka event
KW - Climate change
KW - Ecosystem resilience
KW - Tell Sabi Abyad
KW - Tipping point
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84939574969&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.quaint.2015.04.005
DO - 10.1016/j.quaint.2015.04.005
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84939574969
SN - 1040-6182
VL - 378
SP - 111
EP - 118
JO - Quaternary International
JF - Quaternary International
ER -