"A Brief Review of the Archaeological Evidence for Palaeolithic and Neolithic Subsistence"

The skeleton of a Neolithic woman in present-day Bulgaria.

Richard's text A Brief Review of the Archaeological Evidence for Palaeolithic and Neolithic Subsistence aims to reconstruct past Palaeolithic and Neolithic diets by analyzing the three lines of evidence that describe these diets. Evidence revolves around studying the morphological adaptations that our hominid ancestors developed, analyzing the material archaeological record, and observing direct evidence from carbon isotope analysis. Two morphological traits that Richard focuses on are the gracilization of the mandible and other cranial features, and an increase in cranial capacity; moreover, these adaptations provide evidence that there was an increased consumption of meat that continued throughout the Homo line. Organic plant remains rarely survive, whereas stone tools and faunal remains are more likely to survive and can indicate what our past ancestors may have eaten. However, these artifacts and animal remains do not give us an extensive and accurate description of the prehistoric human’s daily dietary intake, as these sites may have just been reserved for special and occasional feasts. Lastly, the stable isotope analysis provides detailed and accurate evidence on past diets, and the evidence concluded that meat and animal products were a huge part of the Neanderthal and modern human diet.

There was significant change in the archaeological record during the Neolithic period. Pottery, new grinding tools, and an increase in plant remains all provide evidence for plant and animal domestication during this time. Morphological features began to change as the Homo line adapted smaller body statures, decreased dentition size, and an increase in dental caries. The decrease in dentition and increase in dental caries are a direct result from the appearance of easier to chew and carbohydrate-rich processed foods. Neolithic human remains can also provide evidence for Neolithic diets, as changes in female skeletal remains show signs of grinding tasks and adds to the evidence that their diet consisted of grounded, processed food. The decrease of human health was merely a trade-off that humans made, as the adoption of agriculture provided enough food to increase population size and establish permanent settlements.

Sources:

1. Richards, MP. 2002. A Brief Review of the Archaeological Evidence for Palaeolithic and Neolithic Subsistence. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 56: 1-9. 
2. Image Source on itechpost.com

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Neolithic Artifacts

Many believe that the origins of agriculture began in the Neolithic era, thus claiming it as "The Neolithic Revolution". However, the origins of agriculture was gradual and began in many different areas at different times. Depicted below are some interesting artifacts that were used by cultivators and agriculturalists during the Neolithic era. 

An array of Neolithic artifacts, including bracelets, axe heads, chisels, and polishing tools. Neolithic stone implements are by definition polished and, except for specialty items, not chipped.

A Cucuteni-Trypillian culture deer antler plough.

Food and cooking items retrieved at a European Neolithic site: millstones, charred bread, grains and small apples, a clay cooking pot, and containers made of antlers and wood.

Polished Neolithic jadeitite axe from the Museum of Toulouse.

From Wikipedia: "During the Neolithic period, large axes were made from flint nodules by chipping a rough shape, a so-called "rough-out". Such products were traded across a wide area. The rough-outs were then polished to give the surface a fine finish to create the axe head. Polishing not only increased the final strength of the product but also meant that the head could penetrate wood more easily.

Such axe heads were needed in large numbers for forest clearance and the establishment of settlements and farmsteads, a characteristic of the Neolithic period. There were many sources of supply, including Grimes Graves in Suffolk, Cissbury in Sussex and Spiennes near Mons in Belgium to mention but a few. In Britain, there were numerous small quarries in downland areas where flint was removed for local use, for example."

Source:

1. Neolithic Artifacts on Wikipedia

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Join the Neolithic Revolution!

*Note: Open image in separate tab to enlarge.

Join the Neolithic Revolution! This humorous David Steinlicht comic provides a detailed list of the advantages and disadvantages of plant and animal domestication. As stated in my previous post, I must reiterate that the cultivation and domestication of plants and animals did not develop rapidly as the word "revolution" implies. The agriculturalist lifestyle was a gradual change that developed over thousands of years. With that being said, here is an excerpt from the comic:

Your KEYS to a BETTER LIFE!

Harness Plant Power!

• Learn how the seeds you drop can become next fall's crop!
• Use seed selection to make future plants more production and easier to harvest!
• Preserve and store surpluses for hard times!
• Invent new ways of preparing and cooking plant foods!

Put Animals To Work For You!

• Learn which species are slow and submissive!
• Use food and fences to keep them around!
• Influence their choice of mates!
• Breed the best and eat the rest!

Disclaimer:

Plant and animal domestication can lead to overpopulation, deforestation, erosion, flooding, desertification, materialism, diminished nutrition, cavities, and television. Caution advised.

Your results may vary.

The advantages and disadvantages of adopting an agriculturalist lifestyle are clearly stated in the comic; however, why exactly did prehistoric humans feel the need to change their lifestyles? Were they pushed into it due to lack of resources, or were they pulled into it by observing the beneficial aspects of agriculture? 

Source:

1. Comic by David Steinlicht

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