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Settlement, environment, and climate change in SW Anatolia: Dynamics of regional variation and the end of Antiquity.
- Source :
-
PloS one [PLoS One] 2022 Jun 27; Vol. 17 (6), pp. e0270295. Date of Electronic Publication: 2022 Jun 27 (Print Publication: 2022). - Publication Year :
- 2022
-
Abstract
- This paper develops a regional dataset of change at 381 settlements for Lycia-Pamphylia in southwest Anatolia (Turkey) from volume 8 of the Tabula Imperii Byzantini-a compilation of historical toponyms and archaeological evidence. This region is rich in archaeological remains and high-quality paleo-climatic and -environmental archives. Our archaeological synthesis enables direct comparison of these datasets to discuss current hypotheses of climate impacts on historical societies. A Roman Climatic Optimum, characterized by warmer and wetter conditions, facilitating Roman expansion in the 1st-2nd centuries CE cannot be supported here, as Early Byzantine settlement did not benefit from enhanced precipitation in the 4th-6th centuries CE as often supposed. However, widespread settlement decline in a period with challenging archaeological chronologies (c. 550-650 CE) was likely caused by a "perfect storm" of environmental, climatic, seismic, pathogenic and socio-economic factors, though a shift to drier conditions from c. 460 CE appears to have preceded other factors by at least a century.<br />Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
- Subjects :
- Turkey
Archaeology history
Climate Change
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1932-6203
- Volume :
- 17
- Issue :
- 6
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- PloS one
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 35759500
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0270295