Mapping past human land use using archaeological data: A new classification for global land use synthesis and data...

Area of Science:

• Earth System Science
• Archaeology
• Historical Geography

Background:

• Human activities over 12,000 years before the Industrial Revolution caused substantial environmental changes.
• Existing Earth system models oversimplify past land use, leading to uncertainties in understanding Earth's history and current state.

Observation:

• A global initiative is synthesizing archaeological and historical evidence of land use systems.
• A hierarchical classification system and coding schema for land use practices have been developed.

Findings:

• The new classification scheme provides consistent, empirically robust data for improving land use models.
• It enables detailed mapping of historical land use, demonstrated in Mesopotamia and Arabia at 6000 years before present.
• The scheme facilitates a common language for diverse research and policy communities.

Implications:

• Improved land use models will enhance understanding of past and present Earth system dynamics.
• This work supports the Past Global Changes (PAGES) LandCover6k working group and similar international projects.
• The classification scheme bridges the gap between historical scholarship, climate modeling, and conservation efforts.