Modelling Paleoindian dispersals
Modelling Paleoindian dispersals
It is reasonable to expect that the global dispersal of modern humans was influenced by habitat variation in space and time; but many simulation models average such variation into a single, homogeneous surface across which the dispersal process is modelled. We present a demographic simulation model in which rates of spatial range expansion can be modified by local habitat values. The broad-scale vegetation cover of North America during the late last glacial is reconstructed and mapped at thousand-year intervals, 13,000-10,000 radiocarbon years BP. Results of the simulation of human dispersal into North America during the late last glacial are presented; output appears to match observed variation in occupancy of habitats during this period (as assessed from discard rates of diagnostic artefacts), if we assume that intrinsic population growth rates were fairly high and that local population densities varied as a function of environmental carrying capacity. Finally, a number of issues are raised relating to present limitations and possible future extensions of the simulation model.
demographic modelling, paleoecology, human dispersals, fisher-skellam, paleoindian, clovis, fluted point
286-305
Steele, James
3506e505-d2ea-4aca-b4d2-751dc3ef21be
Adams, Jonathan
60c7d6a7-9c02-4f4d-acec-3fcb54eec843
Sluckin, Tim
8dbb6b08-7034-4ae2-aa65-6b80072202f6
1998
Steele, James
3506e505-d2ea-4aca-b4d2-751dc3ef21be
Adams, Jonathan
60c7d6a7-9c02-4f4d-acec-3fcb54eec843
Sluckin, Tim
8dbb6b08-7034-4ae2-aa65-6b80072202f6
Steele, James, Adams, Jonathan and Sluckin, Tim
(1998)
Modelling Paleoindian dispersals.
World Archaeology, 30 (2), .
Abstract
It is reasonable to expect that the global dispersal of modern humans was influenced by habitat variation in space and time; but many simulation models average such variation into a single, homogeneous surface across which the dispersal process is modelled. We present a demographic simulation model in which rates of spatial range expansion can be modified by local habitat values. The broad-scale vegetation cover of North America during the late last glacial is reconstructed and mapped at thousand-year intervals, 13,000-10,000 radiocarbon years BP. Results of the simulation of human dispersal into North America during the late last glacial are presented; output appears to match observed variation in occupancy of habitats during this period (as assessed from discard rates of diagnostic artefacts), if we assume that intrinsic population growth rates were fairly high and that local population densities varied as a function of environmental carrying capacity. Finally, a number of issues are raised relating to present limitations and possible future extensions of the simulation model.
Text
adams_et_al1998_preprint
- Accepted Manuscript
More information
Published date: 1998
Keywords:
demographic modelling, paleoecology, human dispersals, fisher-skellam, paleoindian, clovis, fluted point
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 29570
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/29570
PURE UUID: 3b9f15f6-5746-4e4a-8800-ca3c3fe484c6
Catalogue record
Date deposited: 02 May 2007
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 02:32
Export record
Contributors
Author:
James Steele
Author:
Jonathan Adams
Download statistics
Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.
View more statistics
