Human Colonization of the Arctic: The Interaction Between Early Migration and the Paleoenvironment

Human Colonization of the Arctic: The Interaction Between Early Migration and the Paleoenvironment explores the relationship between humans and the environment during this early time of colonization, utilizing analytical methods from both the social and natural sciences to develop a unique, interdisciplinary approach that gives the reader a much broader understanding of the interrelationship between humanity and the environment. As colonization of the polar region was intermittent and irregular, based on how early humans interacted with the land, this book provides a glance into how humans developed new ways to make the region more habitable.

The book applies not only to the physical continents, but also the arctic waters. This is how humans succeeded in crossing the Bering Strait and water area between Canadian Arctic Islands. About 4500 years ago , humans reached the northern extremity of Greenland and were able to live through the months of polar nights by both adapting to, and making, changes in their environment.

• Written by pioneering experts who understand the relationship between humans and the environment in the arctic
• Addresses why the patterns of colonization were so irregular
• Includes coverage of the earliest examples of humans, developing an understanding of ecosystem services for economic development in extreme climates
• Covers both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems

Arctic specialists, climate scientists, biologists, ecologists, paleogeographers, archeologists, anthropologists, ethnographers, geologists

THE FIRST PART

REGIONS OF INITIAL COLONIZATION

Section 1. European North

Section 2. Siberian North

Section 3. Beringia (North-East of Asia, Alaska, Yukon)

Section 4. Canadian North, Greenland, Iceland

Section 5. Greenland

Section 6. Iceland

THE SECOND PART

SPECIFIC FEATURES OF THE INITIAL COLONIZATION

7. Expansion of the oecumene northwards and paleodiet tradition on the Paleolithic humans in Eurasia: Neanderthals and Modern Humans

8. Mesolithic population in the north of Eastern Europe

9. Way to North: anthropological evidence of adaptive abilities of the first inhabitants in the High Latitudes

10. Genetic data on the colonization of the High Latitudes

11. Stages of initial human colonization of Arctic and Subarctic

Conclusion