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Interventions humaines sur les plantes et les animaux dans le Sahara central

Ginette AUMASSIP

fr Comptes Rendus Palevol 5 (1-2) - Pages 421-427

Published on 28 February 2006

This article is a part of the thematic issue Climates - Culture - Society in prehistoric times. From the appearance of hominids to the Neolithic.

Human interferences on plants and animals in central Sahara

In the Early Holocene, a culture called Saharo-Sudanese Neolithic developed in the central Sahara. Earlier than 9120–8450 cal. BC, they made use of arrowheads, grinding material and many potteries. They have been related to Round Heads paintings. The pictorial expression, archaeological and environmental data suggests particular relationships to some plants and animals (cattle, Barbary sheep and probably antelope). Cattle breeding generated brilliant pastoral culture in the middle Holocene, as for the farming practice there is no evidence, before the 3rd millennium, of mill cultivation.


Keywords:

Domestication, Central Sahara, Holocene, Neolithic, pottery, Bos

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