Neolithic Revolution 3/4

PART 1: http://scienceray.com/biology/ecology/the-transition-to-agriculture-neolithic-revolution-14/

PART 2:  http://socyberty.com/issues/neolithic-revolution-24/

PART 3:  http://scienceray.com/biology/ecology/neolithic-revolution-34/

PART 4:  http://socyberty.com/social-sciences/neolithic-revolution-44/

However, Smith  (1998:  133-140)  stresses  the  favorable ecological features  of the  early

farming villages, while Higham (1995:  134) argues  that  the  Peiligang  settlements  were first

occupied  during  a  colder  climate phase  also  experienced in the  Yangzi valley.    It  may  be

relevant that the known dates for agriculture in  north China  roughly  coincide  with  those  for

the global cooling event around 8200 BP (see section 2).     

South China.  The key crop in the  south  was  rice,  for  which there is  some  evidence

of domestication  in the  middle Yangzi valley  dating  to 9000-8000  BP.   This is  associated

with the  Pengtoushan culture.   The  nearby  site  of Bashidang provides  good evidence  of

domesticated rice by 8000 BP.    Both were located on alluvial plains,  and  Bashidang likely

reflects an “initial stage of domestication” (Lu, 1999:  93).    Higham suggests  that  settlement

began  at Pengtoushan  during  “a period  that  experienced a  reduction  in  temperature

following 1,500  years  of progressive  warming” (1995:  133) and  argues  that  climate

deterioration encouraged the domestication of rice and millet (1995:  147).   After the  climate

recovered, rice cultivation spread widely in the south (1995: 153-4).

Africa.  Unlike  southwest Asia and  (perhaps) China,  domestication  in Africa  does

not seem to have been concentrated in a  few  focal locations.   Rather, it  occurred  in a  broad

band running  along  the  southern  margin of the  Sahara  Desert, from the  tropical  region  of

west Africa to Chad, Sudan, and Ethiopia in the east (Harlan, 1995).