Editorial Type:
Article Category: Research Article
| Online Publication Date: 19 Apr 2011
Landscape Transformation in the Mediterranean-Steppe Transition Zone of Jordan: A Geoarchaeological Approach
Landscape Transformation in the Mediterranean-Steppe Transition Zone of Jordan: A Geoarchaeological Approach
Page Range: 182 – 201
This paper discusses the models that explain prehistoric and historic land degradation in Jordan in the context of the environmental processes that shaped the landscapes of the eastern fringes of the Mediterranean region during the late Quaternary. The discussion is based on a review of the literature concerning mostly historical, archaeological, geographical, geomorphological, and palaeoecological research in Jordan and focuses primarily on the history of ideas and on the identification of current research approaches to the problem. This paper also presents the preliminary data obtained in a current geoarchaeological research project that involves the study of alluvial stratigraphy, soils, and palaeovegetation in relation to the cultural development of the region since pre-agricultural times. The character of this region as an agricultural frontier was an important factor in the formation of the landscapes that we see today. Most of the data reviewed here suggest that the non-forest Mediterranean and steppe vegetation zones acquired their present characteristics during the last five millennia. Cet article étudie les modèles explicatifs de la dégradation préhistorique et historique des sols en Jordanie dans le contexte des processus environnementaux qui ont façonné les paysages des franges orientales de la région méditerranéens durant la fin du Quaternaire. Cet exposé est basé sur un bilan de la littérature historique, archéologique, géographique, géomorphologique et paléo-écologique concernant la recherche sur la Jordanie. Il est principalement centré sur l'histoire des idées et cherche à identifier les courants actuels de la recherche sur la question. Le travail présente également les résultats préliminaires obtenus lors d'une recherche géo-archéologique en cours sur les relations existant en Jordanie centrale, entre la stratigraphie alluviale, les sols et la paléovégétation, d'une part, et le développement culturel de la région depuis la période pré-agricole, d'autre part. Les spécificités de cette région en tant que limite agricole étaient des facteurs importants dans la formation des paysages actuels. La plus grande partie des données recueillies indique que les zones de végétation non-forestière méditerranéenne et steppique ont acquis leurs caractéristiques actuelles au cours des cinq derniers millénaires.
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