Climate change and human occupation in the Southern Arabian lowlands during the last deglaciation and the Holocene

2010

Article référencé dans le Web of Science WOS:000283689700019

Lézine A. M., Robert C., Cleuziou S., Inizan M. L., Braemer F., Saliège J. F., Sylvestre Florence, Tiercelin J. J., Crassard R., Méry S., Charpentier V., Steimer-Herbet T.

Global and Planetary Change, 2010, 72 (4), p. 412-428 ISSN 0921-8181

Paleohydrological and archaeological evidence from the Southern and South-Eastern Arabian Peninsula reveal strong relations between phases of human settlements and climate change linked to the Indian monsoon system. During the early to mid-Holocene, large fresh-water lakes extended in the lowland deserts of Ramlat as-Sab'atayn (Yemen) and Wahiba Sands (Oman), which were very similar to those occurring in the North, in the Rub' al-Khali (Saudi Arabia), at that time. Many archaeological sites, characterized by scattered stone artefacts, ostrich-eggshells and bones around hearths, are related to this lacustrine phase, which culminated around 10 000-8000 cal yr B.P. in the lowland deserts before the lakes progressively dried up. The last record of fresh-water bodies' extensions date back 7300 cal yr B.P. at Shabwa (Yemen) and 7500 cal yr B.P. at al-Haid (Oman). Then, fresh-water was probably available only from seasonal run-off from adjacent highlands, where paleolakes persisted into the late Holocene. Dry climate conditions in the inland desert of Yemen during the late Holocene coincide with a phase of intensive human inhabitation as testified by development of irrigation in the piedmontane areas, numerous necropolises of built collective burials and houses.

Sciences du milieu [021] ; Géologie et formations superficielles [064]

Fonds IRD [F B010052926]

fdi:010052926