Guide to Neil Roberts, The Holocene

Revision suggestions

 

Chapter 2, Reconstructing Holocene Environments	A major theme of this part of S269 is the use of techniques to provide evidence of change throughout the Holocene. Dating techniques, especially: 14C (and 210Pb, 137Cs) dendrochronology paleomagnetic varves Palaeoecological reconstruction Palynology Plant macrofossils Palaeolimnology Geological techniques Landforms Sediments
Chapter 3, The Pleistocene Prelude	Expansion of modern humans, esp. in Asia, Europe, the Americas. Evidence of environmental disturbance by modern humans in the late Pleistocene / early Holocene (e.g. megafaunal extinctions). Interpreting a pollen diagram.
Chapter 4, Early Holocene Adaptations	The natural environments established as the ice sheets retreated (setting the natural "base line" before human disturbance). Climate change. Sea level changes (eustatic & isostatic causes of change). Application of techniques to understand these changes (e.g. dating, palynology).
Chapter 5, The First Farmers	Early farming and its environmental impact. Domestication of animals & plants. Multiple points of origin of agriculture. Opportunistic nature of agricultural evolution.
Chapter 6, The Taming of Nature	Human impact on landscapes. Climatic evolution. Geographic expansion of humans.
Chapter 7, The Impact of Modern Times	Not assessed.  More relevant to S268, Physical Resources and Environment.
Chapter 8, The Environmental Future	Not assessed.

 

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