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Environmental limitations on prehistoric pastoralism in Africa

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Abstract

In several areas of Africa, pastoralism that existed prehistorically no longer survives today. Two such areas, the Southwestern Cape of South Africa and the Sahara, are discussed here, outlining methodologies for reconstruction of adaptive strategies on the basis of environmental parameters that constrained the pastoral economies.

Résumé

En plusieurs régions d'Afrique, le pastoralisme qui existait en temps préhistorique a maintenant disparu. L'article discute de deux de ces régions, le cap sud-ouest de l'Afrique du Sud et le Sahara, donnant un aperçu des méthodologies qui visent la reconstruction des stratégies adaptatrices en se fondant sur les paramètres écologiques qui ont contraint les économies pastorales.

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Smith, A.B. Environmental limitations on prehistoric pastoralism in Africa. Afr Archaeol Rev 2, 99–111 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01117227

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01117227

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