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Published on: May 18, 2019
Early urban impact on Mediterranean coastal environments
David Kaniewski1, Elise Van Campo2, Christophe Morhange3
11] Université Paul Sabatier-Toulouse 3, EcoLab (Laboratoire d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Environnement), Bâtiment 4R1, 118 Route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse cedex 9, France [2] CNRS, EcoLab (Laboratoire d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Environnement), 31062 Toulouse cedex 9, France [3] Institut Universitaire de France, 103 boulevard Saint Michel, 75005 Paris, France.
Ancient cities were not as sustainable as commonly believed. Urban development rapidly transformed local ecosystems, creating new environmental rules from the start.
Area of Science:
- Environmental history
- Archaeology
- Urban ecology
Background:
- Challenging the long-held paradigm that ancient urban areas were inherently sustainable.
- Highlighting the limited understanding of urban emergence and its environmental impact.
- Investigating the ecological consequences of early urban development.
Observation:
- Analyzing a 6000-year environmental record from the port city of Akko (Acre), Israel.
- Examining ecological processes and patterns associated with urban growth.
- Documenting environmental changes around a major ancient urban center.
Findings:
- Early urban development significantly altered pre-existing ecosystems.
- Urban environments developed their own distinct ecological rules shortly after the cities' emergence.
- The assumption of ancient urban sustainability is not supported by empirical evidence.
Implications:
- Rethinking historical models of urban sustainability.
- Understanding the long-term ecological footprint of urbanization.
- Informing contemporary urban planning with historical ecological insights.
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