Human impact and ecological changes during prehistoric settlement on the Canary Islands. (1st July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: de Nascimento, Lea; Nogué, Sandra; Naranjo-Cigala, Agustín; Criado, Constantino; McGlone, Matt; Fernández-Palacios, Enrique; Fernández-Palacios, José María
• Is Part Of: Quaternary science reviews. Volume 239(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-07-01
• Subjects: Extinction -- Holocene -- Introduced species -- North Atlantic -- Oceanic islands -- Paleogeography -- Prehistoric human impact -- Vegetation dynamics; Geology, Stratigraphic -- Quaternary -- Periodicals; Stratigraphie -- Quaternaire -- Périodiques; 551.79
• DOI: 10.1016/j.quascirev.2020.106332
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0277-3791

Abstract

Abstract: Oceanic islands remained free of humans until relatively recent times. On contact, humans encountered pristine environments with unique ecosystems and species highly vulnerable to novel impacts. In the course of rendering an island habitable, the new settlers transformed it through fire, deforestation, hunting and introduction of pests and weeds. The result, as described for many oceanic islands globally, has been a catastrophe for biodiversity. Here we present the case of the Canary Islands, an Atlantic archipelago renowned for its exceptional biodiversity, and show that these islands have been no exception to the general rule. We review the archaeological, palaeoecological, palaeontological and ecological literature for the archipelago and discuss the ecological consequences – in particular habitat transformation and biodiversity loss – of human settlement. In contrast to previous views that prehistoric humans had only limited impacts on these islands, we show that vegetation change, increased fire, soil erosion, species introductions and extinctions follow the familiar oceanic pattern. Timing of human settlement of the Canary Islands has been controversial, with revised archaeological dates suggesting a relatively late arrival at the beginning of the Common Era, while palaeoecological and palaeontological evidence favours a presence several centuries earlier. While the matter is still not settled, we suggest that settlement sometime between 2400 and 2000 cal years BP is a possibility. Highlights: Prehistoric impact on the Canary Islands is reviewed with palaeoecological, palaeontological and archaeological evidence. First Canarian settlers had substantial impact on the environment like other societies that colonized oceanic islands. Palaeoenvironmental data suggests a possible earlier settlement than the recently revised archaeological dates.