A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Climatic changes cause synchronous population dynamics and adaptive strategies among coastal hunter-gatherers in Holocene northern Europe
Authors: Jorgensen Erlend Kirkeng, Pesonen Petro, Tallavaara Miikka
Publisher: CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS
Publication year: 2022
Journal: Quaternary Research
Journal name in source: QUATERNARY RESEARCH
Journal acronym: QUATERNARY RES
Article number: PII S0033589419000863
Volume: 108
Issue: SI
First page : 107
Last page: 122
Number of pages: 16
ISSN: 0033-5894
eISSN: 1096-0287
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/qua.2019.86
Web address : https://doi.org/10.1017/qua.2019.86
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/176606323
Synchronized demographic and behavioral patterns among distinct populations is a well-known, natural phenomenon. Intriguingly, similar patterns of synchrony occur among prehistoric human populations. However, the drivers of synchronous human ecodynamics are not well understood. Addressing this issue, we review the role of environmental variability in causing human demographic and adaptive responses. As a case study, we explore human ecodynamics of coastal hunter-gatherers in Holocene northern Europe, comparing population, economic, and environmental dynamics in two separate areas (northern Norway and western Finland). Population trends are reconstructed using temporal frequency distributions of radiocarbon-dated and shoreline-dated archaeological sites. These are correlated to regional environmental proxies and proxies for maritime resource use. The results demonstrate remarkably synchronous patterns across population trajectories, marine resource exploitation, settlement pattern, and technological responses. Crucially, the population dynamics strongly correspond to significant environmental changes. We evaluate competing hypotheses and suggest that the synchrony stems from similar responses to shared environmental variability. We take this to be a prehistoric human example of the "Moran effect," positing similar responses of geographically distinct populations to shared environmental drivers. The results imply that intensified economies and social interaction networks have limited impact on long-term hunter-gatherer population trajectories beyond what is already proscribed by environmental drivers.
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