Human Behavioral Ecology and Coastal Environments

This volume explores how human behavioral ecology models can be used to understand coastal societies in the past. It provides examples of research approaches that shed light on coastal environments and the use of coastal resources by past human societies. The book discusses unique challenges faced by coastal societies, such as extreme seasonality, patchy resource distribution, natural hazards, and balancing coastal and terrestrial resource needs. It highlights the importance of exploring decision-making and cultural behaviors in understanding how humans have lived in and related to these environments.

Format: Hardback
Length: 296 pages
Publication date: 14 February 2023
Publisher: University Press of Florida

In this comprehensive volume, esteemed contributors employ human behavioral ecology theoretical frameworks to examine coastal societies across the globe, as well as the utilization of coastal resources by past human civilizations. Extensive evidence underscores the dynamic nature of coastlines and islands, playing a significant role in early human migrations. This volume showcases how researchers can gain valuable insights into human behavior within these environments through its critical regional reviews and detailed local case studies.

The volume commences by emphasizing the pivotal role of theory in reconstructing human behavior, offering examples of traditional foraging models. Subsequently, contributors from diverse regions, including North, Central, and South America, the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, Australia, and Polynesia, share their perspectives. They delve into the unique challenges faced by coastal societies, encompassing extreme seasonality, patchy resource distribution, natural hazards, the delicate balance between coastal and terrestrial resource demands, aquatic technological innovations, and the multifaceted impacts of multiscale environmental change.

Human Behavioral Ecology and Coastal Environments underscores the significance of exploring decision-making and cultural behaviors in understanding how humans have inhabited and interacted with these environments throughout history. By applying human behavioral ecology models, this volume illuminates the evolving adaptations of societies in diverse coastal contexts across time and space. This volume is part of the esteemed series Society and Ecology in Island and Coastal Archaeology, edited by Victor D. Thompson and Scott M. Fitzpatrick.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780813069586