Earth Sciences

Sedimentary biomarkers of human presence and taro cultivation reveal early horticulture in Remote Oceania

G. Camperio, S. N. Ladd, et al.

This fascinating research, conducted by Giorgia Camperio, S. Nemiah Ladd, Matiu Prebble, Ronald Lloren, Elena Argiriadis, Daniel B. Nelson, Christiane Krentscher, and Nathalie Dubois, uncovers the timeline of human settlements and horticulture's inception in Remote Oceania. With sediment core analysis from Efate, Vanuatu, the study reveals that the first settlers introduced taro cultivation around 2800 years ago during a wet climate, enriching our understanding of Pacific history.

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Abstract

This paper investigates the timing of initial human settlements and the introduction of horticulture in Remote Oceania using a sediment core from Efate, Vanuatu. Sedimentary biomarkers reveal a simultaneous increase in indicators of human presence (coprostanol and epicoprostanol) and taro cultivation (palmitone) around 2800 years ago, suggesting the early introduction of horticulture by first settlers. Leaf wax analysis indicates that this initial settlement occurred during a period of increasing wetness, favorable for horticulture. These findings refine our understanding of human history in the Pacific.

Publisher

Communications Earth & Environment

Published On

Nov 06, 2024

Authors

Giorgia Camperio, S. Nemiah Ladd, Matiu Prebble, Ronald Lloren, Elena Argiriadis, Daniel B. Nelson, Christiane Krentscher, Nathalie Dubois

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