TY - JOUR
T1 - The role of food storage in human niche construction
T2 - An example from Neolithic Europe
AU - O'Brien, Michael J.
AU - Bentley, R. Alexander
PY - 2015/11/1
Y1 - 2015/11/1
N2 - Niche construction theory, a branch of evolutionary biology, places emphasis on the capacity of organisms, through their metabolism, activities and choices, to modify natural selection in their environment and thereby act as co-directors of their own evolution as well as that of others. Humans are potent niche constructors, and understanding how niche construction regulates ecosystem dynamics is central to understanding the impact of human populations on their ecological and developmental environments. A classic example is provided by the evolution of dairying by Neolithic groups in Europe and the significant role played by storage in the development of the dairying niche.
AB - Niche construction theory, a branch of evolutionary biology, places emphasis on the capacity of organisms, through their metabolism, activities and choices, to modify natural selection in their environment and thereby act as co-directors of their own evolution as well as that of others. Humans are potent niche constructors, and understanding how niche construction regulates ecosystem dynamics is central to understanding the impact of human populations on their ecological and developmental environments. A classic example is provided by the evolution of dairying by Neolithic groups in Europe and the significant role played by storage in the development of the dairying niche.
KW - Cattle
KW - Dairying
KW - Milk
KW - Neolithic
KW - Niche construction
KW - Storage
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84943532301&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1179/1749631414Y.3640000000053
DO - 10.1179/1749631414Y.3640000000053
M3 - Article (Academic Journal)
AN - SCOPUS:84943532301
SN - 1461-4103
VL - 20
SP - 364
EP - 378
JO - Journal of Environmental Archaeology
JF - Journal of Environmental Archaeology
IS - 4
ER -