Pastoralist settlement and the anthropogenic Savannah : the archaeo-ecology of Mili Sita, Kenya
Pastoralism has long been regarded difficult subject matter for archaeology, particularly in eastern Africa. Ephemeral settlements are presumed to leave little physical residue, such that reconstructions of pastoralist ethno-histories have relied on often-vague distributions of material culture. Cultural-stratigraphic approaches are limited in their capacity to explore the lifeways and social dynamics behind material expressions. As a consequence, our knowledge of how herding spread into the region and the historical development of the specialised stock-keeping communities seen today is hindered by a methodological incapacity to address what are arguably the fundamental drivers of pastoralist daily experience: mobility and landscape ecology. This dissertation argues that the interaction of these two elements provides the foundation for pastoralist economics, politics and culture. Movement around the savannah, ostensibly in response to the needs of livestock, not only shapes herders' social interactions and experiences of environment, but also leaves a physical impact on those landscapes. While built structures may not survive archaeologically, this dissertation discusses how settlement, however temporary,
Boles, O. J. C.
Pastoralist settlement and the anthropogenic Savannah : the archaeo-ecology of Mili Sita, Kenya. Pastoralism has long been regarded difficult subject matter for archaeology, particularly in eastern Africa. Ephemeral settlements are presumed to leave little physical residue, such that reconstructions of pastoralist ethno-histories have relied on often-vague distributions of material culture. Cultural-stratigraphic approaches are limited in their capacity to explore the lifeways and social dynamics behind material expressions. As a consequence, our knowledge of how herding spread into the region and the historical development of the specialised stock-keeping communities seen today is hindered by a methodological incapacity to address what are arguably the fundamental drivers of pastoralist daily experience: mobility and landscape ecology. This dissertation argues that the interaction of these two elements provides the foundation for pastoralist economics, politics and culture. Movement around the savannah, ostensibly in response to the needs of livestock, not only shapes herders' social interactions and experiences of environment, but also leaves a physical impact on those landscapes. While built structures may not survive archaeologically, this dissertation discusses how settlement, however temporary,
pastoralist settlement anthropogenic archaeo ecology kenya pastoralism long regard difficult subject_matter archaeology particularly eastern_africa ephemeral settlement presume leave_little physical residue reconstruction pastoralist ethno histories rely often vague distribution material_culture cultural stratigraphic approach limited capacity explore lifeways social_dynamic behind material_expression consequence knowledge herd spread region historical_development specialise stock keeping community see today hinder methodological address arguably fundamental driver pastoralist daily_experience mobility landscape ecology argues interaction element provide_foundation pastoralist economics politics_culture movement around ostensibly response need livestock shape herder social_interaction experience environment also leave physical impact landscape build structure may survive archaeologically discuss settlement however temporary