Social and biophysical vulnerability of prehistoric societies to Rapid Climate Change

Lee Clare; Bernhard Weninger

doi:10.4312/dp.37.24

Authors

Lee Clare University of Cologne, Institute of Prehistoric Archaeology, Radiocarbon Laboratory, Cologne
Bernhard Weninger University of Cologne, Institute of Prehistoric Archaeology, Radiocarbon Laboratory, Cologne

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4312/dp.37.24

Keywords:

Rapid Climate Change (RCC), biophysical vulnerability, social vulnerability, coping strategies, Anatolia, Neolithic

Abstract

Previous studies of the impact of Rapid Climate Change (RCC) on prehistoric com- munities have often been restricted in their explanatory power due to the lack of an appropriate analytical tool capable of combining palaeoclimate data with archaeological culture. In this paper, we seek to remedy this shortfall by introducing theoretical-methodological concepts adapted from modern vulnerability and risk studies. Using this approach, our focus shifts from climate proxies to prehistoric cultures themselves.