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'Multi-cropping', Intercropping and Adaptation to Variable Environments in Indus South Asia.

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Petrie, CA 
Bates, J 

Abstract

Past human populations are known to have managed crops in a range of ways. Various methods can be used, singly or in conjunction, to reconstruct these strategies, a process which lends itself to the exploration of socio-economic and political themes. This paper endeavours to unpack the concept of 'multi-cropping' by considering diversity and variation in the cropping practices of the populations of South Asia's Indus Civilisation. It argues that nuanced interpretations of the evidence provided by the combinations of crop seeds and weeds present in specific contexts and phases of occupation can reveal much about Indus cropping strategies, which in turn enables consideration of issues related to adaptation, intensification and resilience in the face of changing social, political, economic and environmental climates.

Description

Keywords

Adaptation, Cropping strategies, Environmental diversity, Indus Civilisation, Resilience, South Asia, ‘Multi-cropping’

Journal Title

J World Prehist

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0892-7537
1573-7802

Volume Title

30

Publisher

Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Sponsorship
European Research Council (648609)
Arts and Humanities Research Council, UK India Education and Research Initiative (Standard Award), British Academy (Stein Arnold Fund), Isaac Newton Trust, McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), European Research Council (ERC) (Consolidator Grant)