The Holocene - An Environmental History

From the Publisher

In its first edition, The Holocene provided undergraduates with a much-needed coherent scientific account of the great transformation of nature that had taken place during the Holocene, the last 10,000 years in the history of the planet and the period in which we are all now living. This period has included major shifts in climate and human culture, and in the natural environment at every level.

Completely revised and updated to take full account of the most recent advances, the new edition of this established text includes substantial material on scientific progress in the understanding of climate change and abrupt climatic events, of disturbance effects on the landscape, and of ice core records. Not only have improved dating methods, such as luminescence, been included but the timescale for the book has been moved to calendar (i.e. real) years. Coverage and supporting case study material have also been broadened and extended.

Editorial Reviews -

The Holocene

From the Publisher

In its first edition, The Holocene provided undergraduates with a much-needed coherent scientific account of the great transformation of nature that had taken place during the Holocene, the last 10,000 years in the history of the planet and the period in which we are all now living. This period has included major shifts in climate and human culture, and in the natural environment at every level.

Completely revised and updated to take full account of the most recent advances, the new edition of this established text includes substantial material on scientific progress in the understanding of climate change and abrupt climatic events, of disturbance effects on the landscape, and of ice core records. Not only have improved dating methods, such as luminescence, been included but the timescale for the book has been moved to calendar (i.e. real) years. Coverage and supporting case study material have also been broadened and extended.

Booknews

Draws on both the natural and human sciences. Written for undergraduate students in geography, archaeology, environmental science and ecology. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Features -

The Holocene

• Table of Contents

Table of Contents

List of Technical BoxesPreface to the Second EditionAcknowledgements1Introduction12Reconstructing Holocene Environments8Dating the Past9Palaeoecological Techniques28Geological Techniques40Models of Environmental Reconstruction513The Pleistocene Prelude (>11,500 Cal. yr BP)55Ice-age Environments56The Terminal Pleistocene (16,000-11,500 Cal. yr BP)68Human Ecology at the End of the Pleistocene784Early Holocene Adaptations (11,500-5000 Cal. yr BP)87Changes in the Physical Environment88The Return of the Forests99The Ecology of Mesolithic Europe109The Early Holocene in the Tropics112Early Holocene Climates: Pattern and Process1175The First Farmers127Agricultural Origins128The Role of Environmental Change in Early Agriculture142Early Agricultural Impacts1506The Taming of Nature (5000-500 Cal. yr BP)159Changes in the Natural Environment162Cultural Evolution171Expansion at the Periphery179Mediterranean Ecosystems186The Making of the Landscape: the British Isles1927The Impact of Modern Times (500-0 Cal. yr BP)207Climatic Changes in Historical Times212Land-use History and Soil Erosion216Pollution Histories2278The Environmental Future: A Holocene Perspective243Holocene Environmental Crises247Environmental Conservation and Holocene History249AppendixCalibration Table for Radiocarbon Ages253Glossary254Bibliography258Index305

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Synopsis

In its first edition, The Holocene provided undergraduates with a much-needed coherent scientific account of the great transformation of nature that had taken place during the Holocene, the last 10,000 years in the history of the planet and the period in which we are all now living. This period has included major shifts in climate and human culture, and in the natural environment at every level.

Completely revised and updated to take full account of the most recent advances, the new edition of this established text includes substantial material on scientific progress in the understanding of climate change and abrupt climatic events, of disturbance effects on the landscape, and of ice core records. Not only have improved dating methods, such as luminescence, been included but the timescale for the book has been moved to calendar (i.e. real) years. Coverage and supporting case study material have also been broadened and extended.

About Author:

Biography

Neil Roberts is Professor at the University of Plymouth. His main research interests are in Holocene environmental change, especially the lake sediment record of climate and human impact in low latitude regions such as East Africa and the Mediterranean. His previous books include The Changing Global Environment (Blackwell Publishers, 1994) and Ecological Relations in Historical Times (with Robin Butlin, Blackwell Publishers, 1995).

Special Features:

The Holocene

• Table of Contents

Table of Contents

List of Technical BoxesPreface to the Second EditionAcknowledgements1Introduction12Reconstructing Holocene Environments8Dating the Past9Palaeoecological Techniques28Geological Techniques40Models of Environmental Reconstruction513The Pleistocene Prelude (>11,500 Cal. yr BP)55Ice-age Environments56The Terminal Pleistocene (16,000-11,500 Cal. yr BP)68Human Ecology at the End of the Pleistocene784Early Holocene Adaptations (11,500-5000 Cal. yr BP)87Changes in the Physical Environment88The Return of the Forests99The Ecology of Mesolithic Europe109The Early Holocene in the Tropics112Early Holocene Climates: Pattern and Process1175The First Farmers127Agricultural Origins128The Role of Environmental Change in Early Agriculture142Early Agricultural Impacts1506The Taming of Nature (5000-500 Cal. yr BP)159Changes in the Natural Environment162Cultural Evolution171Expansion at the Periphery179Mediterranean Ecosystems186The Making of the Landscape: the British Isles1927The Impact of Modern Times (500-0 Cal. yr BP)207Climatic Changes in Historical Times212Land-use History and Soil Erosion216Pollution Histories2278The Environmental Future: A Holocene Perspective243Holocene Environmental Crises247Environmental Conservation and Holocene History249AppendixCalibration Table for Radiocarbon Ages253Glossary254Bibliography258Index305

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