Origins and Implications of Domestication

Origins of DomesticationWhy did Domestication Occur?Where and When did Domestication Occur? Consequences of Domestication

Origins of Food Production

Shift from food gathering to food production in different parts of the world. People began to practice cultivation of plants.

Deliberate collecting of seeds for planting. Tame wild animals

People began to rely on certain plants or animals Artificial selection-people encourage the reproduction of

certain plants or animals. gradually results in types of plants and animals that are distinct from

Wild species-Domestication-the process of establishing human control over a plant or animals ) reproduction, humans select mates for animals with certain characteristics.

How do we recognize this archaeologically?

Plants Domesticated plants have stronger stem

areas where the seeds attach. Also tend to have larger edible parts.

Charred remains

Crops Origins

Vegetables

Fruit Origins

How do we recognize this archaeologically?

Animals Species outside native area, Horses not native to Egypt,

but found there archaeologically around 4,000 years ago.

Morphological changes-shape and size of goat horns (wild=long and curved, domestic=short and round). Dogs-retain juvenile traits.

Measurements-animals at first tend to get smaller during domestication,

Sex ratios and age profiles-Less males when using herd animals for milk. Meat profiles-usually young animals.

Cultural Evidence-captive animals portrayed in artwork, burial of whole animals with people or by themselves.

13,000

Animal Domestication

Domestics & Wild Counterparts

Why did Domestication Occur?

Today we take food production for granted-go to the supermarket and get whatever we want.

Hunting and gathering actually takes less time and effort than food production. *i.e. soil has to be worked, crops planted, pests

controlled, harvested and processed while hunter gatherers, such as San Bushmen of Africa, only spend 12-19 hours per week on food gathering.

Agriculture is risky-could have crops die due to weather conditions.

“Pull” Theories Oasis Theory-

V. Gordon Childe suggested that the climate at the end of the Pleistocene forced people to change strategy. Severe droughts forced people to move to isolated fertile areas called oases. Here they had to maximize area to produce food.

Readiness Hypothesis- Robert Braidwood suggested that humans became

increasingly familiar with plants and animals around them and began to domesticate them. But, no real evidence and he doesn't explain how. Human Selection and Environment-Particular local conditions may have affected different patterns of domestication.

Coevolution- David Rindos suggests humans unintentionally promoted

dispersal of certain types of plants by weeding, storing, irrigating particular wild resources. As these plants became more common reliance on them increased.

“Push” Theories

Population Models- Esther Boserup's idea that societies will intensify food

production only when forced to by population pressure on resources.

Demographic Stress- Lewis Binford linked increasing pop pressure to environmental

change. When sea levels rose, coastal people moved inland and led to

population pressure on groups already there, so needed to cultivate to produce enough food.

Population Growth- Mark Cohen hypothesized that human populations had spread

to all areas of the world, and they used all the available food resources, continued pop growth caused the need to produce more food.

Where and When did Domestication Occur?

Occurred Worldwide independently and involved many different species!

Southwest Asia-Israel, Jordan, Syria, Turkey, Iraq, and Iran-Fertile Crescent. Natufians-best known southwest asians to

cultivate wild grains and cereal grasses. 13-14,000 ya.

Around 11,000 years ago farming communities emerged, such as Jericho and subsisted on wheat, barley, peas, beans, lentils, sheep, goats, pigs and cattle.

Where and When did Domestication Occur?

Europe-Mediterranean to Sweden, nw Russia. Many agricultural products introduced

from sw asia, but in some areas agricultural developed gradually and became well established by 6,000 ya.

Agricultural Context of the Iceman

Discovered in 1991 in the Alps on the border of Italy and Austria

Dated to 5100-5350 yrs BP Last meal

main ingredient: einkorn, based on remains in colon

charcoal: einkorn used to make "bread" (cracker-like), baked over open fire

pollen of hop hornbeam tree: March-June, south of mountains

Also einkorn grains found in clothing

Discovery

The “Ice Man”

Clothing Layers

Reconstruction

Where and When did Domestication Occur?

East Asia-China, Thailand. Domestication of root crops such as

yams around 11,000 years ago (vegiculture-dividing and replanting live plants).

Rice cultivation as early as 9,000 years ago, also pig, dog and chicken.

Where and When did Domestication Occur?

Africa- 8,000 years ago semi-permanent

settlements in Nile River Valley, domestication of emmer wheat, flax,

lentils, chickpeas, sheep and goats.

Consequences

Population Growth Domestication caused food supplies to

become more stable and reliable. More food poor acre of land, so can

support larger population. *i.e. Paleolithic pop=10 million, 2,000

years ago=300 million, today=6 billion.

Consequences

Health and Nutrition Not necessarily improve quality of life. Closer contact with people, so easier

spread of disease. Same unvarying diet, poorer nutrition.

*i.e. increase in dental caries (cavities).

Consequences

Increasing Mental/Cultural Complexity and Social Stratification Increase in quantity and types of artifacts,

trade. Sophisticated material culture, innovations in

transportation (wheels), more durable buildings. Shift from Egalitarian to stratified societies. Full-time craft specialists, etc. Religious/Elite