Biomass burning in the Americas after AD 1500: European contact or climate?
Mitchell J. Power|Francis E. Mayle|Patrick J. Bartlein
When considering the pan-African process of human evolution in Pleistocene it is important to review our understanding climate on a regional scale, including heterogeneity due variability relative strengths forcing mechanisms. Research Kuruman Hills at southern edge Kalahari South Africa has recently provided new insights into complexity and distinctiveness African palaeoclimate. Here we compare these records, obtained from Kathu Pan, Wonderwerk Cave, Mamatwan Mine, focusing presence water bodies c. 2 million years before present end Pleistocene. Through synthesis multiple proxies create picture localized availability as would have affected hominin adaptation. These records are then framed within larger discussion environmental change. The emerging record suggests that distribution zones rainfall seasonality varied significantly throughout particularly found association with wetter phases which supported lakes, springs pans.
Quaternary International