Archaeological assessment reveals Earth’s early transformation through land use

Lucas Stephens; D Fuller; Nicole Boivin; Torben Rick; Nicolas Gauthier; Andrea Kay; Ben Marwick; Chelsey Geralda Denise Armstrong; C. Michael Barton; Tim Denham; Kristina Douglass; Jonathan Driver; Lisa Janz; Patrick Roberts; J. Daniel Rogers; Heather Thakar; Mark Altaweel; Amber L. Johnson; Vattuone MM Sampietro; Mark Aldenderfer; Sonia Archila; Gilberto Artioli; Martin T. Bale; Timothy Beach; Ferran Borrell; Todd Braje; Philip I. Buckland; Cano NG Jiménez; José M. Capriles; Castillo A Diez; Ç Çilingiroğlu; Cleary M Negus; James Conolly; Peter R. Coutros; R. Alan Covey; Mauro Cremaschi; Alison Crowther; Lindsay Der; Lernia S di; John F. Doershuk; William E. Doolittle; Kevin J. Edwards; Jon M. Erlandson; Damian Evans; Andrew Fairbairn; Patrick Faulkner; Gary Feinman; Ricardo Fernandes; Scott M. Fitzpatrick; Ralph Fyfe; E Garcea; S Goldstein; RC Goodman; Guedes J Dalpoim; J Herrmann; P Hiscock; P Hommel; KA Horsburgh; C Hritz; JW Ives; A Junno; JG Kahn; B Kaufman; C Kearns; TR Kidder; F Lanoë; D Lawrence; G-A Lee; MJ Levin; HB Lindskoug; JA López-Sáez; S Macrae; R Marchant; JM Marston; S McClure; MD McCoy; AV Miller; M Morrison; Matuzeviciute G Motuzaite; J Müller; A Nayak; S Noerwidi; TM Peres; CE Peterson; L Proctor

doi:10.1126/science.aax1192

Archaeological assessment reveals Earth’s early transformation through land use

Lucas Stephens^*, D Fuller, Nicole Boivin, Torben Rick, Nicolas Gauthier, Andrea Kay, Ben Marwick, Chelsey Geralda Denise Armstrong, C. Michael Barton, Tim Denham, Kristina Douglass, Jonathan Driver, Lisa Janz, Patrick Roberts, J. Daniel Rogers, Heather Thakar, Mark Altaweel, Amber L. Johnson, Vattuone MM Sampietro, Mark AldenderferSonia Archila, Gilberto Artioli, Martin T. Bale, Timothy Beach, Ferran Borrell, Todd Braje, Philip I. Buckland, Cano NG Jiménez, José M. Capriles, Castillo A Diez, Ç Çilingiroğlu, Cleary M Negus, James Conolly, Peter R. Coutros, R. Alan Covey, Mauro Cremaschi, Alison Crowther, Lindsay Der, Lernia S di, John F. Doershuk, William E. Doolittle, Kevin J. Edwards, Jon M. Erlandson, Damian Evans, Andrew Fairbairn, Patrick Faulkner, Gary Feinman, Ricardo Fernandes, Scott M. Fitzpatrick, Ralph Fyfe, E Garcea, S Goldstein, RC Goodman, Guedes J Dalpoim, J Herrmann, P Hiscock, P Hommel, KA Horsburgh, C Hritz, JW Ives, A Junno, JG Kahn, B Kaufman, C Kearns, TR Kidder, F Lanoë, D Lawrence, G-A Lee, MJ Levin, HB Lindskoug, JA López-Sáez, S Macrae, R Marchant, JM Marston, S McClure, MD McCoy, AV Miller, M Morrison, Matuzeviciute G Motuzaite, J Müller, A Nayak, S Noerwidi, TM Peres, CE Peterson, L Proctor

^*Corresponding author for this work

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

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Abstract

Environmentally transformative human use of land accelerated with the emergence of agriculture, but the extent, trajectory, and implications of these early changes are not well understood. An empirical global assessment of land use from 10,000 years before the present (yr B.P.) to 1850 CE reveals a planet largely transformed by hunter-gatherers, farmers, and pastoralists by 3000 years ago, considerably earlier than the dates in the land-use reconstructions commonly used by Earth scientists. Synthesis of knowledge contributed by more than 250 archaeologists highlighted gaps in archaeological expertise and data quality, which peaked for 2000 yr B.P. and in traditionally studied and wealthier regions. Archaeological reconstruction of global land-use history illuminates the deep roots of Earth’s transformation and challenges the emerging Anthropocene paradigm that large-scale anthropogenic global environmental change is mostly a recent phenomenon.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	897-902
Number of pages	0
Journal	Science
Volume	365
Issue number	6456
Early online date	30 Aug 2019
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aax1192
Publication status	Published - 30 Aug 2019

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Stephens etal archaeoglobe SCIENCE 2019 GRRENcopy

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Stephens, L., Fuller, D., Boivin, N., Rick, T., Gauthier, N., Kay, A., Marwick, B., Armstrong, C. G. D., Barton, C. M., Denham, T., Douglass, K., Driver, J., Janz, L., Roberts, P., Rogers, J. D., Thakar, H., Altaweel, M., Johnson, A. L., Sampietro, V. MM., ... Proctor, L. (2019). Archaeological assessment reveals Earth’s early transformation through land use. Science, 365(6456), 897-902. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aax1192

@article{0e8ba7460d4d434eb913095466a11042,

title = "Archaeological assessment reveals Earth{\textquoteright}s early transformation through land use",

abstract = "Environmentally transformative human use of land accelerated with the emergence of agriculture, but the extent, trajectory, and implications of these early changes are not well understood. An empirical global assessment of land use from 10,000 years before the present (yr B.P.) to 1850 CE reveals a planet largely transformed by hunter-gatherers, farmers, and pastoralists by 3000 years ago, considerably earlier than the dates in the land-use reconstructions commonly used by Earth scientists. Synthesis of knowledge contributed by more than 250 archaeologists highlighted gaps in archaeological expertise and data quality, which peaked for 2000 yr B.P. and in traditionally studied and wealthier regions. Archaeological reconstruction of global land-use history illuminates the deep roots of Earth{\textquoteright}s transformation and challenges the emerging Anthropocene paradigm that large-scale anthropogenic global environmental change is mostly a recent phenomenon.",

author = "Lucas Stephens and D Fuller and Nicole Boivin and Torben Rick and Nicolas Gauthier and Andrea Kay and Ben Marwick and Armstrong, {Chelsey Geralda Denise} and Barton, {C. Michael} and Tim Denham and Kristina Douglass and Jonathan Driver and Lisa Janz and Patrick Roberts and Rogers, {J. Daniel} and Heather Thakar and Mark Altaweel and Johnson, {Amber L.} and Sampietro, {Vattuone MM} and Mark Aldenderfer and Sonia Archila and Gilberto Artioli and Bale, {Martin T.} and Timothy Beach and Ferran Borrell and Todd Braje and Buckland, {Philip I.} and Jim{\'e}nez, {Cano NG} and Capriles, {Jos{\'e} M.} and Diez, {Castillo A} and {\c C} {\c C}ilingiroğlu and Negus, {Cleary M} and James Conolly and Coutros, {Peter R.} and Covey, {R. Alan} and Mauro Cremaschi and Alison Crowther and Lindsay Der and di, {Lernia S} and Doershuk, {John F.} and Doolittle, {William E.} and Edwards, {Kevin J.} and Erlandson, {Jon M.} and Damian Evans and Andrew Fairbairn and Patrick Faulkner and Gary Feinman and Ricardo Fernandes and Fitzpatrick, {Scott M.} and Ralph Fyfe and E Garcea and S Goldstein and RC Goodman and Dalpoim, {Guedes J} and J Herrmann and P Hiscock and P Hommel and KA Horsburgh and C Hritz and JW Ives and A Junno and JG Kahn and B Kaufman and C Kearns and TR Kidder and F Lano{\"e} and D Lawrence and G-A Lee and MJ Levin and HB Lindskoug and JA L{\'o}pez-S{\'a}ez and S Macrae and R Marchant and JM Marston and S McClure and MD McCoy and AV Miller and M Morrison and Motuzaite, {Matuzeviciute G} and J M{\"u}ller and A Nayak and S Noerwidi and TM Peres and CE Peterson and L Proctor",

year = "2019",

month = aug,

day = "30",

doi = "10.1126/science.aax1192",

language = "English",

volume = "365",

pages = "897--902",

journal = "Science",

issn = "0036-8075",

publisher = "American Association for the Advancement of Science",

number = "6456",

}

Stephens, L, Fuller, D, Boivin, N, Rick, T, Gauthier, N, Kay, A, Marwick, B, Armstrong, CGD, Barton, CM, Denham, T, Douglass, K, Driver, J, Janz, L, Roberts, P, Rogers, JD, Thakar, H, Altaweel, M, Johnson, AL, Sampietro, VMM, Aldenderfer, M, Archila, S, Artioli, G, Bale, MT, Beach, T, Borrell, F, Braje, T, Buckland, PI, Jiménez, CNG, Capriles, JM, Diez, CA, Çilingiroğlu, Ç, Negus, CM, Conolly, J, Coutros, PR, Covey, RA, Cremaschi, M, Crowther, A, Der, L, di, LS, Doershuk, JF, Doolittle, WE, Edwards, KJ, Erlandson, JM, Evans, D, Fairbairn, A, Faulkner, P, Feinman, G, Fernandes, R, Fitzpatrick, SM, Fyfe, R, Garcea, E, Goldstein, S, Goodman, RC, Dalpoim, GJ, Herrmann, J, Hiscock, P, Hommel, P, Horsburgh, KA, Hritz, C, Ives, JW, Junno, A, Kahn, JG, Kaufman, B, Kearns, C, Kidder, TR, Lanoë, F, Lawrence, D, Lee, G-A, Levin, MJ, Lindskoug, HB, López-Sáez, JA, Macrae, S, Marchant, R, Marston, JM, McClure, S, McCoy, MD, Miller, AV, Morrison, M, Motuzaite, MG, Müller, J, Nayak, A, Noerwidi, S, Peres, TM, Peterson, CE & Proctor, L 2019, 'Archaeological assessment reveals Earth’s early transformation through land use', Science, vol. 365, no. 6456, pp. 897-902. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aax1192

TY - JOUR

T1 - Archaeological assessment reveals Earth’s early transformation through land use

AU - Stephens, Lucas

AU - Fuller, D

AU - Boivin, Nicole

AU - Rick, Torben

AU - Gauthier, Nicolas

AU - Kay, Andrea

AU - Marwick, Ben

AU - Armstrong, Chelsey Geralda Denise

AU - Barton, C. Michael

AU - Denham, Tim

AU - Douglass, Kristina

AU - Driver, Jonathan

AU - Janz, Lisa

AU - Roberts, Patrick

AU - Rogers, J. Daniel

AU - Thakar, Heather

AU - Altaweel, Mark

AU - Johnson, Amber L.

AU - Sampietro, Vattuone MM

AU - Aldenderfer, Mark

AU - Archila, Sonia

AU - Artioli, Gilberto

AU - Bale, Martin T.

AU - Beach, Timothy

AU - Borrell, Ferran

AU - Braje, Todd

AU - Buckland, Philip I.

AU - Jiménez, Cano NG

AU - Capriles, José M.

AU - Diez, Castillo A

AU - Çilingiroğlu, Ç

AU - Negus, Cleary M

AU - Conolly, James

AU - Coutros, Peter R.

AU - Covey, R. Alan

AU - Cremaschi, Mauro

AU - Crowther, Alison

AU - Der, Lindsay

AU - di, Lernia S

AU - Doershuk, John F.

AU - Doolittle, William E.

AU - Edwards, Kevin J.

AU - Erlandson, Jon M.

AU - Evans, Damian

AU - Fairbairn, Andrew

AU - Faulkner, Patrick

AU - Feinman, Gary

AU - Fernandes, Ricardo

AU - Fitzpatrick, Scott M.

AU - Fyfe, Ralph

AU - Garcea, E

AU - Goldstein, S

AU - Goodman, RC

AU - Dalpoim, Guedes J

AU - Herrmann, J

AU - Hiscock, P

AU - Hommel, P

AU - Horsburgh, KA

AU - Hritz, C

AU - Ives, JW

AU - Junno, A

AU - Kahn, JG

AU - Kaufman, B

AU - Kearns, C

AU - Kidder, TR

AU - Lanoë, F

AU - Lawrence, D

AU - Lee, G-A

AU - Levin, MJ

AU - Lindskoug, HB

AU - López-Sáez, JA

AU - Macrae, S

AU - Marchant, R

AU - Marston, JM

AU - McClure, S

AU - McCoy, MD

AU - Miller, AV

AU - Morrison, M

AU - Motuzaite, Matuzeviciute G

AU - Müller, J

AU - Nayak, A

AU - Noerwidi, S

AU - Peres, TM

AU - Peterson, CE

AU - Proctor, L

PY - 2019/8/30

Y1 - 2019/8/30

N2 - Environmentally transformative human use of land accelerated with the emergence of agriculture, but the extent, trajectory, and implications of these early changes are not well understood. An empirical global assessment of land use from 10,000 years before the present (yr B.P.) to 1850 CE reveals a planet largely transformed by hunter-gatherers, farmers, and pastoralists by 3000 years ago, considerably earlier than the dates in the land-use reconstructions commonly used by Earth scientists. Synthesis of knowledge contributed by more than 250 archaeologists highlighted gaps in archaeological expertise and data quality, which peaked for 2000 yr B.P. and in traditionally studied and wealthier regions. Archaeological reconstruction of global land-use history illuminates the deep roots of Earth’s transformation and challenges the emerging Anthropocene paradigm that large-scale anthropogenic global environmental change is mostly a recent phenomenon.

AB - Environmentally transformative human use of land accelerated with the emergence of agriculture, but the extent, trajectory, and implications of these early changes are not well understood. An empirical global assessment of land use from 10,000 years before the present (yr B.P.) to 1850 CE reveals a planet largely transformed by hunter-gatherers, farmers, and pastoralists by 3000 years ago, considerably earlier than the dates in the land-use reconstructions commonly used by Earth scientists. Synthesis of knowledge contributed by more than 250 archaeologists highlighted gaps in archaeological expertise and data quality, which peaked for 2000 yr B.P. and in traditionally studied and wealthier regions. Archaeological reconstruction of global land-use history illuminates the deep roots of Earth’s transformation and challenges the emerging Anthropocene paradigm that large-scale anthropogenic global environmental change is mostly a recent phenomenon.

UR - https://pearl.plymouth.ac.uk/context/gees-research/article/1712/viewcontent/Stephens_etal_archaeoglobe_SCIENCE_2019_GRRENcopy.pdf

U2 - 10.1126/science.aax1192

DO - 10.1126/science.aax1192

M3 - Article

SN - 0036-8075

VL - 365

SP - 897

EP - 902

JO - Science

JF - Science

IS - 6456

ER -

Archaeological assessment reveals Earth’s early transformation through land use

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