Farming, fishing, and fire in the history of the upper Río Negro region of Venezuela

Reference Type Journal Article
Year of Publication
1987
Author
Journal
Human Ecology
Volume
15
Issue
1
Pagination
1-26
Date Published
03/1987
Language
English
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Abstract
Studies of Río Negro subsistence farming and fishing activities are used to estimate the human carrying capacity for the region and the likely pattern of human land-use during prehistory. Ceramic evidence suggests human presence in the region more than 3,000 years ago. Traditional farming is labor intensive and relatively unproductive. Nevertheless, farmers achieve an energy return of 15.2:1, and produce 2,600 kcal per work hour. Fish are the major protein source, but fish catch per unit of effort and fish yield per hectare of floodplain are very low; fishermen are probably exploiting local fish resources very close to their limit. The low human population density would suggest that the Río Negro forest has been relatively undisturbed. Nevertheless, charcoal is widespread and abundant in forest soils. This charcoal is probably from anthropogenic or natural wildfires. These results suggest a much more complex history for Amazonia than previously thought. (author)
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ArticleType: research-article

Full publication date: Mar., 1987

Copyright © 1987 Springer

Journal Abbreviation
Hum Ecol
ISSN
0300-7839; 1572-9915