W&M Featured Events
[PAST EVENT] The Asian Century
Location
Zoom - https://cwm.zoom.us/j/98718840802
THE ASIAN CENTURY
AMES Colloquium Series presents: "Seeing the Forest from the Trees: Multi-proxy analysis of pastoralist-landscape relationships in southern Arabia during the Holocene" by Abigail Buffington
Pastoralists have suffered a reputation in conservation circles and adjacent research as forces of degradation on their environments for decades. Archaeological research in dryland regions, such as the wadis, rangelands, and dry forests of southern Arabia, supports the anthropological critique of these narratives. In these data (macro- and micro-fossil assemblages, geospatial analysis, ethnography), are profound evidence of the primary role of modern pastoralists and their ancestral populations in creating and recreating resilient pastoral commons. Generally speaking, the best landscapes for supporting pastoral production are often the least viable for alternative forms of land use. Investigation into the traditional ecological knowledge through ethnographic research and historic archives provides clear evidence of long developed environmental histories. In this talk, the speaker will summarize the work she has conducted under the auspices of multiple projects in the region, and highlight the value of using a human niche construction approach for analyzing these materials.
Friday, March 12th, 3 - 4 pm
Zoom: https://cwm.zoom.us/j/98718840802