Human, Environment and Food: Human Productivity of the Environment in the Mesolithic and Neolithic Periods in the Southeast of the Caspian Sea

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Department of Archaeology, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran.

2 Department of Archaeology, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

The Mesolithic and Neolithic periods mark pivotal junctures in the evolving relationship between humans
and the environment. During these epochs, millennia-old hunter-gatherer lifestyles underwent a profound
transformation, giving rise to new modes of existence. A cornerstone of this shift was the development of strategies
to harness and optimize the diverse resources offered by the natural world. The Neolithic period, in particular,
is often considered the dawn of the Anthropocene, as human activities began to exert a substantial and often
irreversible impact on ecosystems. To explore the dynamics of this transformation in the southeastern Caspian Sea
region, this article examines archaeological evidence from the Hotu, Kamarband, Komishan caves, and Komishani
Tepe. Through the analysis of archaeobotanical, zooarchaeological, and lithic artifacts, we seek to reconstruct the
multifaceted changes experienced by communities as they transitioned from hunting and gathering to agriculture.
Our findings reveal a period of remarkable adaptability. Humans intelligently modified their environments to meet
their needs and employed diverse strategies to mitigate the challenges posed by climatic fluctuations, such as cold
and warm. These adaptations underscore the ingenuity and resilience of early human societies as they navigated
the complexities of their changing world.

Keywords

References

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Iranian Journal of Archaeological Studies
Volume 14, Issue 1
2024
Pages 63-80

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