Investigating reindeer pastoralism and exploitation of high mountain zones in northern Mongolia through ice patch archaeology.
In interior Eurasia, high mountain zones are crucial to pastoral subsistence, providing seasonally productive pastures and abundant wild resources. In some areas of northern Mongolia, mountainous tundra zones also support a low-latitude population of domestic reindeer herders-a lifestyle whose origi...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:ca95062e37fa4e6789ab866f72b72368 2023-05-15T16:39:32+02:00 Investigating reindeer pastoralism and exploitation of high mountain zones in northern Mongolia through ice patch archaeology. William Taylor Julia K Clark Björn Reichhardt Gregory W L Hodgins Jamsranjav Bayarsaikhan Oyundelger Batchuluun Jocelyn Whitworth Myagmar Nansalmaa Craig M Lee E James Dixon 2019-01-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0224741 https://doaj.org/article/ca95062e37fa4e6789ab866f72b72368 EN eng Public Library of Science (PLoS) https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0224741 https://doaj.org/toc/1932-6203 1932-6203 doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0224741 https://doaj.org/article/ca95062e37fa4e6789ab866f72b72368 PLoS ONE, Vol 14, Iss 11, p e0224741 (2019) Medicine R Science Q article 2019 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0224741 2022-12-31T07:06:33Z In interior Eurasia, high mountain zones are crucial to pastoral subsistence, providing seasonally productive pastures and abundant wild resources. In some areas of northern Mongolia, mountainous tundra zones also support a low-latitude population of domestic reindeer herders-a lifestyle whose origins are poorly characterized in the archaeological record of early Mongolia. Traditionally, reindeer pastoralists make significant seasonal use of munkh mus (eternal ice) for their domestic herds, using these features to cool heat-stressed animals and provide respite from insect harassment. In recent years, many of these features have begun to melt entirely for the first time, producing urgent threats to traditional management techniques, the viability of summer pastures, and reindeer health. The melting ice is also exposing fragile organic archaeological materials that had previously been contained in the patch. We present the results of horseback survey of ice patches in Baruun Taiga special protected area, providing the first archaeological insights from the region. Results reveal new evidence of historic tool production and wild resource use for fishing or other activities, and indicate that ice patches are likely to contain one of the few material records of premodern domestic reindeer use in Mongolia and lower Central Asia. The area's ancient ice appears to be rapidly melting due to changing climate and warming summer temperatures, putting both cultural heritage and traditional reindeer herding at extreme risk in the years to come. Article in Journal/Newspaper Ice Patch Archaeology taiga Tundra Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles PLOS ONE 14 11 e0224741 |
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Open Polar |
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Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
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ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Medicine R Science Q |
spellingShingle |
Medicine R Science Q William Taylor Julia K Clark Björn Reichhardt Gregory W L Hodgins Jamsranjav Bayarsaikhan Oyundelger Batchuluun Jocelyn Whitworth Myagmar Nansalmaa Craig M Lee E James Dixon Investigating reindeer pastoralism and exploitation of high mountain zones in northern Mongolia through ice patch archaeology. |
topic_facet |
Medicine R Science Q |
description |
In interior Eurasia, high mountain zones are crucial to pastoral subsistence, providing seasonally productive pastures and abundant wild resources. In some areas of northern Mongolia, mountainous tundra zones also support a low-latitude population of domestic reindeer herders-a lifestyle whose origins are poorly characterized in the archaeological record of early Mongolia. Traditionally, reindeer pastoralists make significant seasonal use of munkh mus (eternal ice) for their domestic herds, using these features to cool heat-stressed animals and provide respite from insect harassment. In recent years, many of these features have begun to melt entirely for the first time, producing urgent threats to traditional management techniques, the viability of summer pastures, and reindeer health. The melting ice is also exposing fragile organic archaeological materials that had previously been contained in the patch. We present the results of horseback survey of ice patches in Baruun Taiga special protected area, providing the first archaeological insights from the region. Results reveal new evidence of historic tool production and wild resource use for fishing or other activities, and indicate that ice patches are likely to contain one of the few material records of premodern domestic reindeer use in Mongolia and lower Central Asia. The area's ancient ice appears to be rapidly melting due to changing climate and warming summer temperatures, putting both cultural heritage and traditional reindeer herding at extreme risk in the years to come. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
William Taylor Julia K Clark Björn Reichhardt Gregory W L Hodgins Jamsranjav Bayarsaikhan Oyundelger Batchuluun Jocelyn Whitworth Myagmar Nansalmaa Craig M Lee E James Dixon |
author_facet |
William Taylor Julia K Clark Björn Reichhardt Gregory W L Hodgins Jamsranjav Bayarsaikhan Oyundelger Batchuluun Jocelyn Whitworth Myagmar Nansalmaa Craig M Lee E James Dixon |
author_sort |
William Taylor |
title |
Investigating reindeer pastoralism and exploitation of high mountain zones in northern Mongolia through ice patch archaeology. |
title_short |
Investigating reindeer pastoralism and exploitation of high mountain zones in northern Mongolia through ice patch archaeology. |
title_full |
Investigating reindeer pastoralism and exploitation of high mountain zones in northern Mongolia through ice patch archaeology. |
title_fullStr |
Investigating reindeer pastoralism and exploitation of high mountain zones in northern Mongolia through ice patch archaeology. |
title_full_unstemmed |
Investigating reindeer pastoralism and exploitation of high mountain zones in northern Mongolia through ice patch archaeology. |
title_sort |
investigating reindeer pastoralism and exploitation of high mountain zones in northern mongolia through ice patch archaeology. |
publisher |
Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
publishDate |
2019 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0224741 https://doaj.org/article/ca95062e37fa4e6789ab866f72b72368 |
genre |
Ice Patch Archaeology taiga Tundra |
genre_facet |
Ice Patch Archaeology taiga Tundra |
op_source |
PLoS ONE, Vol 14, Iss 11, p e0224741 (2019) |
op_relation |
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0224741 https://doaj.org/toc/1932-6203 1932-6203 doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0224741 https://doaj.org/article/ca95062e37fa4e6789ab866f72b72368 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0224741 |
container_title |
PLOS ONE |
container_volume |
14 |
container_issue |
11 |
container_start_page |
e0224741 |
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1766029875386253312 |