Palynological Evidence of the Effects of the Deerskin Trade on Forest Fires during the Eighteenth Century in Southeastern North America
H. Thomas Foster, II and Arthur D. Cohen
Abstract
Three palynological cores from the coastal plain of Georgia and Alabama were analyzed for paleobotanical remains. Results show that the Indians of southeastern North America increased forest fires used in hunting as a response to the demand for deer hides during the early eighteenth century. Palynological data are consistent with known anthropogenic changes in the region. Charcoal abundance increased significantly between A.D. 1715 and 1770, which is the period of the most intensive hunting by the Indians. This study shows that forest fires from hunting had a significant and measurable effect on the evolution of the biophysical environment.
Resumen
Se analizaron tres núcleos de palynological del llano costero de Georgia y Alabama para restos paleobotanical. Los resultados enseñan que los indios de Norteamérica sureste aumentaron fuegos de bosque utilizados al buscar como una respuesta a la demanda para pieles de ciervo durante el decimoctavo siglo temprano. Los datos de Palynological son consistentes con cambios anthropogenic conocidos en la región. La abundancia de carbón vegetal aumentó de modo significativo en medio anuncio 1715 y 1770 que es el período de la caza más intensiva por los indios. Este estudio enseña que los fuegos de bosque de buscar tuvieron un efecto significativo en la evolución del entorno de biophysical.
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