2021/12/07 by Olivier Scancarello, Marina Gallinaro, Savino di Lernia · 5 citations
Earth and Planetary Sciences · Social Sciences · #African Studies and Geopolitics #Archaeological record #Archaeology #Archaeology and ancient environmental studies #Geography #Holocene #Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology #Prehistory #Rock shelter #Typology
paper · open access · doi:10.1080/00934690.2021.2009214
published in Journal of Field Archaeology 47(2), 71-89 (Taylor & Francis)
openalex publication_date 2021/12/07 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/02
The identification of mobility patterns in prehistoric communities is crucial for the understanding of their social and economic strategies. Though factors such as economics, environment, and cultural choices are strictly related to mobility, it has been demonstrated how anticipated mobility is pivotal in generating different aspects of site structure and spatial organization. Considering the stone structures uncovered at Takarkori rock shelter (southwestern Libya, central Sahara), we performed morphometrical and spatial analysis to provide appropriate indicators of mobility patterns, site structure, and activity areas among hunter-gatherers and pastoral groups that inhabited the shelter during the Early and Middle Holocene. We recognized year-round semisedentary patterns and shorter seasonal occupations, based on the number, size, typology, and topography of stone structures. The paper discusses how, through the analysis of stone structures, it is possible to recognize mobility patterns in the archaeological record.